Police want to find the owner of a dog which may have died after a horror attack by Alsatians in Exeter. One dog has already died following the incident, at Exwick Playing Fields on December 21.
Now police suspect a second dog has had to be euthanised due to its injuries and want to trace the owner. Officers also want to hear from anyone else with information or evidence that could help their inquiries.
They are also calling for calm after social media posts “caused concern to the local and wider community”. Police urged the public to avoid speculation on social media.
A police spokesperson said: “We are appealing to the public for help in tracing the owner of a second dog which may have had to be euthanised due to its injuries, as well as anyone with any information or evidence to assist our investigation.”
Police said they received a report of an incident in Exwick Playing Fields, a spot popular with dog walkers, on December 21 in which people and dogs were reportedly injured by a dog or dogs. Police said a woman suffered wounds to her hands while trying to protect a dog.
Helen Adams holding Romeo (left)
(Image: Helen Adams)
The injuries sustained by people and dogs required hospital and vet treatment and a police spokesperson said: “We now understand that at least one dog had to be euthanised by a vet, due to the severity of its injuries.”
A search warrant was obtained from Exeter Magistrates’ Court on December 24 and three dogs, believed to have been involved, were seized by police. The spokesperson said: “The dogs will be retained and cared for by police whilst the investigation continues.”
The owner of the dog which had to be put down has since spoken to DevonLive. Helen Adams, aged 65, described how her husband was walking their pet Romeo when it was attacked by three Alsatian dogs.
She said Romeo had to be euthanised due to the extent of his injuries. Mrs Adams said she was “relieved” when she heard that three dogs had been seized.
Police want anyone with any information about the events in Exwick Playing Fields to contact them quoting crime number 50240321127.