A ‘dangerous and out of control’ dog was shot dead by a police marksmen after a woman was mauled by the animal and taken to hospital.
Armed police and a police helicopter were called to the scene in Oldham, Greater Manchester, on Sunday morning, following reports that two dogs were ‘running loose’ around the estate.
The dogs then reportedly attacked a woman, according to witnesses, who was later taken to hospital with bite injuries. Her dog, thought to be a cockapoo, was also injured.
Photos shared on social media today, claim to show the two dogs. One appeared to be a bulldog-type breed and another some form of Alsastian/husky cross, roaming loose without leads on.
Greater Manchester Police force said both dogs were ‘humanely destroyed’ while a man was arrested following the attack in Moorside.
Armed police and a police helicopter were called to the scene in Kea Green Close in Oldham, Greater Manchester, on Sunday morning, following reports that two dogs were ‘running loose’
On social media people are claiming these two dogs were killed following the attack
Residents posted messages in a local Facebook group urging parents not to let their kids out while the dogs were loose. Others described their horror after seeing the dog shot dead.
One witness said: ‘About five unmarked police cars came screaming up and parked right outside our property. We saw a number of police officers get out with guns and tasers.
‘They approached the dog, it was on next door’s drive, and kind of circled around it. Within three seconds they shot it at point blank.
‘There was a quite a commotion, a number of officers were running round the other side of the estate. They blocked cars from coming up the cul-de-sac.
‘Then a police officer came and explained what had happened. He said the dogs had also been loose previously a few weeks ago and attacked someone and mauled her dog. He said they tried to calm him down, but he wasn’t having it, so because it was in a built up area and it was approaching people’s doors they didn’t want to take any chances.
‘It’s just a sorry situation all round.’
Another witness said: ‘The dogs were running loose. I called the police and they were here within five minutes. There were eight cars and the helicopter was out as well.
‘The dogs attacked the woman and her dog on Haven Lane. The police came and got them inside the car, but the dogs were jumping all over the car still trying to get at them. It was awful.’
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: ‘At around 8.15am this morning (Sunday), officers were called to reports of two loose dogs in the Moorside area of Oldham. Specialist officers and emergency services attended the scene and found that another dog and a member of the public had been bitten by the two dangerous dogs and were acting in an aggressive manner.
‘The injured member of the public and dog are receiving medical treatment. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the incident, the two dogs were humanely destroyed as a safety precaution due to circumstances and the injuries caused.
‘A man was located and arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dangerously of control dog in a public place.’
In a separate incident, two women were taken to hospital on Saturday after a dog attacked them on playing fields in Leigh.
In a different attack, three-year-old girl suffered facial injuries from a dog outside a pub in Kirkby, Merseyside, on Saturday.
And wo American XL bulldogs were shot dead by a farmer in Wales after they killed 22 pregnant sheep and injured 48 more in a savage rampage.
