People living in West Byfleet have actually voiced issues over “out-of-control” huge dogs after a recent worrying event saw a family of swans chased after for almost a mile along the Basingstoke Canal. The event taken place on Saturday, May 27, and included what has actually been referred to as an American Bulldog-type dog that leapt in the water and swam after the birds.
The dog’s owner was required to climb up into the water and raise the pooch out after it appeared to not react to efforts to remember it. A witness to the event who had actually been walking next to the canal at the time explained the experience as “very stressful” and a “lucky escape” for the family of swans, said to consist of a cygnet.
The witness – who wanted to stay confidential – said: “I think something should be done because some people, not just me, are a bit concerned. Recently you see some out-of-control dogs. Most dogs are fine.”
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They included: “The dog could have killed the swan because it was very persistent. It’s a bit concerning because if the dog could get a swan, this large thing could also attack another dog or who knows, even a kid.” Another local has actually likewise called SurreyLive given that and explained a comparable event about big dogs off-lead by the canal.
The event was reported to the authorities and the Swan Sanctuary by both the witness and the dog owner. A representative for the sanctuary, Steve Knight, said that the dog owner had actually appeared “very concerned” and validated that the swans included were checked out and are “absolutely fine”.
He said: “The owner, they rang us straight away when the incident happened, as soon as they could, and we checked it all out.” And included: “It’s the dog owners who don’t call us that are the genuine issue. They simply let their dogs run wild and have no issue whatsoever.
“But the dog owners that do call us after something has happened are responsible owners, usually because they’re worried about what has happened.” A video shown SurreyLive brought the canal throughout the event appears to reveal a run-in in between the owner and a walker who was shooting the dog go after the swans.
The dog walker can be seen contacting us to the pooch without any action, however then require the individual stop shooting prior to more shouting can be heard. The swans can be seen resisting while the dog swims after them.
Later in the video, the walker is heard to have actually asked “why don’t you just put your dog on a lead?”. The owner of the dog can then be seen in the canal raising the dog out of the water.
A representative for Surrey Police validated the force had actually been warned of the event after thepet owner had actually reported himself. They said: “On Tuesday, May 27, at around 8.30am a man was walking his 2 dogs along the Basingstoke Canal in between Addlestone and West Byfleet when among his dogs chased numerous swans who remained in the river nearby.
“The owner removed the dog from the canal, checked on the welfare of the swans, and later reported himself to police in relation to his dog’s behaviour. He was given words of advice and the incident recorded.”
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