‘Mr T', and a poem left at the scene of Friday’s fatal attack on the bulldog

Published: 11 October, 2012
by TOM FOOT

THE grieving owner of a large bulldog has called for laws to be changed after her pet died in a bloody daytime knife attack on Friday afternoon.
“Mr T” – weighing in at seven-and-a-half stone – was stabbed repeatedly with “several knives” in Woodland Walk, Belsize Park.

But detectives have already warned they are only able to bring charges for “criminal damage” in the case because the law classes pets as the property of their owners.

Bulldog owner Daisy Jenkins, who lives in Belsize Park, said: “I know it is not a child – but it still a life.

“Mr T had his whole life ahead of him. He was the sweetest thing in the world. It is wrong to count a dog as a possession.”

She added: “Children are scared to go and play in the woods now. It is madness that someone can do that and not go to prison, even for a little bit or just to have their heads looked at. It’s wrong and I’m going to get this changed.”

A man was arrested on Friday and bailed. He has not been charged but his bail conditions prevent him from going near a dog or Ms Jenkins. His dog is thought to have clashed with Mr T on the woody path linking Aspern Grove and Downside Crescent.

Experts from the Village Vet in Belsize Park arrived shortly after the attack at 3.30pm but were unable to save Mr T.

A shrine has been set up in Woodland Park but one of Ms Jenkins’s dog statues had been stolen and one visitor had chosen to leave a hostile note among the floral tributes.

Ms Jenkins said she had feared for her own life during the incident. Her white coat was covered in bloodstains and she was inconsolable on Tuesday.

She recalled fond memories of the “gentle giant” and how she thought he was a “bear” when she took him in as a rescue dog three years ago.

A police spokeswoman said: “Officers later attended the suspect’s address whilst carrying out door-to-door enquiries. Officers recognised the suspect based on the description given and arrested him on suspicion of criminal damage.”

She added that the “deceased dog is classed as property” and pointed to relevant passages of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.