GOOD Morning Britain sparked a row today over whether a lawyer’s dog that mauled a seal should be put down as it “could attack a child next“. Brits were left heartbroken when Freddie the Seal was killed by a dog near Hammersmith Bridge, West London, on Sunday. Wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham was discussing the […]
GOOD Morning Britain sparked a row today over whether a lawyer’s dog that mauled a seal should be put down as it “could attack a child next“.
Brits were left heartbroken when Freddie the Seal was killed by a dog near Hammersmith Bridge, West London, on Sunday.
Wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham was discussing the incident with broadcaster Mike Parry and the pair got involved in a heated debate.
Mr Parry said the dog must be put down and suggested that it could even attack a child next.
He told the show: “If you get a dog attacking a little seal, who knows what it might attack next – what happens if it didn’t recognise a little child?
“I really don’t understand that the dog hasn’t been put down because it now has a history of attacking things – what will it attack next?
“Anytime a dog attacks it must be put down.”
Mr Packham said owner Rebecca Sabben-Clare was at fault but stressed we “can’t take the wolf out of the poodle”.
If you get a dog attacking a little seal, who knows what it might attack next – what happens if it didn’t recognise a little child?”
Mike Parry
He said: “We can take the poodle out of the wolf, but we can’t take the wolf out of the poodle.
“Had that dog been on the lead, that attack would not have taken place.
“The onus has to fall on the owner to make sure they can manage their dog properly.”
Mr Packham added: “I think there are certainly exceptional circumstances where dogs are so psychologically damaged, or they have indeed been trained to hunt other animals, and indeed sometimes trained to hunt or attack people, that in those instances it would be very hard to rehabilitate the animal.
“And euthanasia might be a necessary option.”
Ms Sabben-Clare, an Oxford-educated lawyer, apologised for the “terrible accident”.
The 49-year-old said she regretted not putting the dog on a lead after it attacked Freddie.
Shocking pictures showed the cross-breed latched on to the seal’s flipper as walkers and cyclists, including a vet, rushed to his aid on the banks of the River Thames.
Freddie the seal, named after Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, was put down on Monday a day after the lunchtime attack.
He earned the affectionate nickname after entertaining walkers on the bank of the Thames for weeks.
Ms Sabben-Clare told the Evening Standard: “I am heartbroken by this terrible accident.
“As an animal lover, I fully understand the dismay that has been expressed. I apologise unreservedly for what happened.
I am heartbroken by this terrible accident.”
Rebecca Sabben-Clare
“In hindsight I wish, of course, that the dog had been on a lead but at the time that did not seem necessary.
“I am hugely grateful to all those who helped at the scene. They were heroic.
“I left for my own safety and that of my dog, believing that there was nothing that I could do to help as the seal was being looked after by a vet and help had been called. I offered my contact details to the vet before leaving.”
Ms Sabben-Clare also stressed she had made contact with the police after the incident, who had directed her to the RSPCA.
She added: “The RSPCA interviewed me and confirmed that they were happy that no offence had been committed.
“I tried to contact the police again repeatedly yesterday afternoon, in response to a statement from them that they wished to identify me and speak to me.
“They have still not been in contact.”
Ms Sabben-Clare said she has made a donation to the Wildlife Hospital which treated the seal, and praised them for their “wonderful” work.
Her apology comes after the RSCPA said today it can only investigate offences under the Animal Welfare Act, which involves cruelty to animals.
They stressed the police must investigate offences involving dangerous dogs – though the Metropolitan Police today confirmed they would not be launching a probe.
