London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A man, 42, was killed in a dog attack in East London, and the dog’s owner, Leanne McDonnell, faces multiple charges.
Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 42-year-old man died after a dog attack in East London on Wednesday morning.
Authorities were called to Shirley Road in Stratford at 4:53 am on Wednesday after reports of a man with serious injuries.
The man was rushed to the hospital, where he later passed away.
Forces stated the family of the victim has been informed, and a post-mortem will be conducted shortly.
Police seized the dog involved in the killing, but the breed has not been revealed.
Leanne McDonnell, 32, of Stratford, has been charged with owning a dog that caused a fatal injury to a man. She also faces charges for neglecting her responsibilities to ensure the animal’s welfare and for having a fighting dog.
McDonnell is also charged with three counts of owning a dog dangerously out of control that caused no injury, from an incident on November 18.
She has been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
In 2023, there were 16 fatalities resulting from dog attacks, marking a sharp increase from previous years, where such deaths were typically in the single digits. This rise included several high-profile incidents involving XL Bully dogs.
Despite the XL Bully dog ban taking effect on February 1, 2024, attacks involving the breed have persisted. Police reported 6,392 dog attacks in the first five months after the ban, but details on XL Bully-related incidents are not available.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was introduced following a rise in attacks, notably involving American Pit Bull Terriers, to improve public safety. The legislation bans certain breeds that are considered dangerous and enforces strict regulations on their ownership.
Banned breeds include the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, and American XL Bully.
Under the Act, owners must keep these dogs on leads and muzzled in public, ensuring greater control and reducing the risk of attacks.
Recently, in Richmond Park, south-west London, a dog chased and killed a deer. This incident is part of a larger issue, as it is estimated that three to four deer are killed by dogs in the park each year.
A spokesperson from the Royal Parks stated that dogs play a key role in deer fatalities in both Richmond and Bushy Parks, with attacks resulting in injuries and deaths, and by chasing the deer onto roads where they are vulnerable to traffic.