Attacks on guide dogs soar to new high - report

Attacks on guide dogs have reached a new high, a shocking new report has revealed.

The study, compiled by the UK charity The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs), showed the amount of guide dogs savaged by other dogs has risen to more than eight a month on average.

The charity said the trauma experienced by the four-legged victims means some are forced to retire early.

In other cases the canines, which suffer both physically and psychologically, are unable to work for a significant amount of time.

The blind and partially-sighted are often left vulnerable and distressed following dog-on-dog attacks.

The increasing number of attacks by dangerous dogs has prompted the charity to campaign for compulsory microchipping of all dogs within two years so that perpetrators can be easily identified.

The animal organisation hopes that proposal would help enforcement agencies police the growing problem and encourage responsible dog ownership. 

Speaking about the latest research, David Cowdrey, Guide Dogs campaigns manager said: "An attack on any dog is frightening, but for a guide dog owner it is much worse.

“With more than eight reported attacks on guide dogs a month, the trauma caused by these unprovoked attacks could leave a blind or partially sighted person a virtual prisoner in their own home.”

Jemma Brown, 23, whose guide dog Gus has been viciously attacked six times, said: "One of the worst attacks was outside a coffee shop on the high street in Southampton. This dog came charging towards us. It pinned Gus to the floor and the dog's owners couldn't get the dog to let go, so they started punching it in the head. But they caught Gus a few times too and he was left concussed. He couldn't work for three weeks."

"Gus sometimes thinks that every dog we pass is going to attack him. Other times he barks at other dogs out of fear. He could easily have been finished as a guide dog, which would have been devastating for me.”

Guide Dogs want to see the police press charges against more dog owners whose dogs are dangerously out of control.

Mr Cowdrey added: "We want the police to take more decisive action when a guide dog is attacked. Ultimately we want them to be given the power to treat an attack on a guide dog or any other assistance dog like an attack on a person.”

At present, the government is consulting on the issue but has said its preferred option is to microchip puppies only.

There are currently about 4,500 working guide dogs across Britain.