Elayne Stanley was 44-years-old when she died after being attacked by her American bulldogs in Graham Rd, Widnes, Cheshire, on 24 September 2019. The mother of three was fighting with her 16-year-old pregnant daughter Louis Smith in front of their two dogs, Billy and DJ. DJ was euthanised at the scene, while Billy was also put down later following two unsuccessful attempts to sedate him.
Although this happened two years ago by now, there are still lessons that can be learned from this incident: it is important to keep dogs under control, a dog’s history should be known before adopting, arguing should be avoided in front of pets, and a dog’s loyalty should belong to all members of the family.
#1 Keep Dogs Under Control
According to BBC News, Billy and DJ have been previously owned by Stanley’s partner, Paul Leigh. In 2016, there have been court orders requiring him to keep them under control. Leigh was convicted under the Dangerous Dogs Act due to previously reported incidents involving the dogs, such as an attack that injured another dog owner and an attack on another dog that had to be euthanised.
According to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, section 3 in England and Wales, dogs of any type or breed should not be dangerously out of control or in a state that could frighten people from being injured. If this law is breached, owners or guardians who allow their pets to hurt another person will pay an unlimited fine, face up to three years in jail for injury, or 14 years for death, disqualification from owning pets and having their dog put down. Note that it’s also an offence to let a dog injure a registered assistance dog.
Coroner Peter Sigee stated Leigh were called to present evidence but did not attend the inquest. A police interview transcript proved that Leigh claimed he did not own the dogs, but he had admitted that he owned them during the 2016 court proceedings. This leads us to the next lesson: know a dog’s history before adopting.
#2 Get to Know Dogs Before Adopting Them
The investigation heard Smith say she had no idea that the previous incidents listed above happened. She also did not know if her mum had knowledge of Leigh’s conviction in 2016 under the Dangerous Dogs Act. This proves that knowing a dog before an adoption is necessary.
Ideally, researching a dog’s background, needs, and ideal environment is essential before adopting one, so you can make an informed decision on whether you are capable of taking care of the dog or whether it would fit your lifestyle. The shelter’s employees can help you with that. But aside from this reason, doing a background check is also vital to avoid incidents such as what happened to Stanley. When you are receiving pets from a friend or even a family member, just like Stanley received from Leigh, make sure you ask questions about the dog, how it was raised, and why are they giving it to you. Of course, they can deny if there’s a problem. So, ask questions from other people, like your friend’s neighbours. Who knows, maybe they were just trying to get rid of a problem dog; you don’t want to be at the receiver end of that. If Smith were aware of Leigh’s conviction, there is a small chance they would take care of the dogs.
#3 Avoid Arguments in Front of Dogs
Make sure you avoid engaging in a fight or even just a heated discussion in front of your furry friend. Dogs are intuitive animals, and they can sense if you are arguing. Research shows dogs can feel human emotions; that’s why you have to be careful with how you behave in front of your dog. In an interview with Men’s Health, Houston-based dog behaviour consultant Michael Baugh says when you are not feeling well, your dog will be upset, too. If your pet does not usually see you mad, raising your voice and throwing hostile gestures can trigger it or cause it to bark. There are cases where your dog can start to link your aggressive mood with the person you’re with, especially if you are arguing. If this takes place, your dog can threaten or even attack your loved one.
In Stanley’s case, Cheshire Police lead dog legislation officer Jason Lennox told BBC that DJ had interpreted her argument with Smith as a possible threat and tried to prevent any physical contact between the mother and daughter. Lennox added American bulldogs were guarding dogs and could get body language during heated discussions. He said DJ might have also sensed that Smith was pregnant and tried to protect her and her baby.
#4 Make Sure Dogs Are Loyal to All Family Members
Pet dogs have always been known to be very faithful to their owners. But sometimes, you also have to balance your dog’s loyalty. For example, you may have to train a loyal dog to be able to stand on its own. Extreme loyalty can mean your dog may be stressed if they cannot see you.
If a dog has become very attached to you and is now distant from your family members, this may lead to a problem. Your dog may react aggressively when they perceive you are at risk or are not being respectfully treated in your family. This creates an unhealthy environment. Your family dog should feel a sense of belonging to all members of your family.
In Stanley’s case, if their dogs equally loved her and her daughter Smith, there is less chance that the incident would have happened.
What happened to Stanley was truly devastating. As pet owners, we have the responsibility to protect our pets and protect people—including ourselves—from our dogs. Unfortunately, the incident could no longer be reversed now, but we can still learn these lessons and apply them to prevent such cases from happening.
It is also best to hire a professional dog trainer like Jay Lowe to train your furry friends so they can behave properly. Keep your dogs safe and book a training session with us today.
Recent Comments