Dachshunds and Leonberger among eight dogs seized after fatal mauling

January 13, 2023

‘There was no barking, just screaming’: Witnesses tell of horrifying attack after female dog walker, 28, ‘was mauled to death by pack of animals including a Leonberger and two Dachshunds after one bit a stranger and then turned on her as she tried to intervene’

Woman killed by dog in Surrey was a 28-year-old dog walker from London
Officers were called to reports of a dog attack in Caterham at 2.45pm yesterday
Eight dogs have been seized by police and no arrests have been made yet
It’s understood two Daschunds and a Leonberger are among seized dogs
Witnesses say there was ‘no barking from dogs, just screams’ from the victim
DID YOU WITNESS THE ATTACK? DO YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE INVOLVED? Email [email protected]

Two Dachshunds and a Leonberger are among eight dogs who were seized by the council after a woman was fatally mauled by a pack of animals.

Horrified witnesses have recalled the sheer terror of the dog walker, 28, who tried to keep onlookers away even as the animals – who were ‘like a pack of wolves’ – attacked her in the remote beauty spot Gravelly Hill in Caterham at 2.45pm on Thursday.

‘There was no barking – just her screaming. She was being attacked, she was trying to sit up, but with the dogs around her and going for her arms she couldn’t do it. It was a frenzy.’

She was reportedly walking up to seven dogs at the time and was attempting to wrangle the animals after one lunged at a woman and her smaller dog who were also in the park.

‘Most of them may have been still on their leads,’ one source told the Daily Mail.

‘They were tangled round her, meaning she couldn’t stand. It was impossible for them to get away, so in their frenzy they just went for what was in front of them.’

DID YOU WITNESS THE ATTACK? DO YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE INVOLVED? Email [email protected]

Police at the remote spot Gravelly Hill in Caterham, Surrey, where a 28-year-old woman was mauled to death by the dogs she was walking

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene after she was set upon by up to eight dogs – seven of which she was reportedly walking at the time

Several species of dog were seized from the scene and remain locked up with the council pending a further investigation.

Early reports indicate none of the dogs are of a dangerous or forbidden breed. They are thought to include a Leonberger – which is a cross between a Newfoundland and a St Bernard – and two sausage dogs.

It was not clear how many of them attacked the victim and only one of the dogs appeared to be of substantial size.

Two horse riders chanced upon the attack as it was happening and appeared poised to intervene, but, a witness said ‘this woman in sheer panic was shouting at the riders ”go back, go back”.’

A couple of the dogs made moves toward the horses – leading to one bolting and galloping in terror back down the bridle path. The rider was thrown off.

The unseated rider, 60-year-old Susan Dove, said: ‘We could hear shouting and screaming. I thought ‘oh my God, this is awful’.’

Two Dachshunds (stock image pictured) were reportedly seized alongside six other dogs after the fatal attack

Another of the eight dogs seized was a Leonberger (stock image pictured) – which is a cross between a Newfoundland and a St Bernard

Another woman was hospitalised and eight dogs were recovered at the scene after police responded following the attack at 2.45pm Thursday

Police were called, arriving half an hour after the initial attack in several cars carrying armed officers and paramedics

Police were called, arriving half an hour after the initial attack in several cars carrying armed officers and paramedics.

The source added: ‘There was nothing the riders could have done. She just had too many dogs. If they get into a frenzy, you need to be able to control them. If something happens, it’s like having seven small wolves attacking you.’

Relatives of the dead woman, said to be from London, have been informed and are being supported by police. The woman who was initially bitten has been discharged from hospital.

Locals said there had been a surge in dog walking since the boom in pet ownership during Covid lockdown. And they suggested that many owners depended on dog walkers after returning to workplaces.

Police at the remote spot Gravelly Hill in Caterham, Surrey, where a 28-year-old woman was mauled to death by the dogs she was walking

One man down at the scene said: ‘The area is in the middle of the countryside surrounded by big detached houses’

Neighbours in the rural area close to the M25 were stunned to have the vicious death on their door-step

The boss of nearby Mardens Kennels, Richard Bream, said: ‘That particular area is where professional dog walkers will turn up in their van and take their dogs out and walk them.

‘I’ve always felt you see some of these dog walkers have five or six and they shouldn’t be able to do that.’

It is understood the force is looking into whether the victim was a registered dog-walker.

Inspector Lyndsey Whatley of Surrey Police said: ‘I would like to reassure residents that we are confident all the dogs involved are in the custody of police while we investigate the circumstances.’

Pictured: Police at the scene of the tragedy during the initial investigation

Police cars at the scene of a savage dog attack where a woman, 28, was killed

Neighbours in the rural area close to the M25 were stunned to have the vicious death on their door-step.

Lesley Hoffley, 62, who lives just yards away from where the incident happened, said: ‘No one seems to know anything and the police haven’t been in touch at all. All we know is from what we see on the news.

‘We don’t know if the young lady was a local. It’s hard to say because people come from all over to Gravelly Hill.’

The part-time copywriter added: ‘It just doesn’t really make any sense. Why are there seven dangerous dogs around there and how did it happen? None of us who live round here have any idea.

‘It’s left the community feeling really anxious and, of course, heartbroken for whoever this young lady was.’

Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, added: ‘It’s unbelievable. We’ve not had too many details about it but everyone has been shaken by the news. This could have happened to anyone. All our thoughts are with the girl’s family.’

A police cordon remained in place at Gravelly Hill yesterday as forensic work was carried out. Officers erected a black gazebo at the scene, while a number of police vehicles and two red vans – one marked ‘Underwater Search Unit’ – were spotted behind the cordon

What is the council policy on dog walkers?

Dog walkers in the Surrey district of Tandridge, where the woman died, must apply for a licence at £156.50 a year.

The only exception is where the business is already licensed under the Animal Welfare Act for boarding and day care.

There is no national limit on the number of dogs an individual can walk at one time. But Tandridge council has set the maximum at six – suggesting the tragic victim of Thursday’s mauling may have exceeded the limit if she was running a commercial operation.

Walkers are also required to have third-party liability cover for a minimum of £5million if they are using an outdoor council facility and a licence is required if a professional walker is using council-owned land.

The council requires dog walkers to prove they are ‘registered with a recognised body such as the National Association of Professional Dog Walkers’. Alternatively, they must hold a qualification covering canine behaviour, control and legislation.

The owner of a dog that kills someone can be jailed for up to 14 years. Maulings carry a maximum five-year term.

A woman walking a border collie past one of the police cordons, who asked not to be named, said she was shocked by the incident. She said: ‘It’s a nice circular woodland walk and we’ve never had any issues before. It is so shocking, normal dogs surely wouldn’t do that.’

A post-mortem examination will be conducted by the Surrey coroner as part of an inquest into the death.

Claire Coutinho, the MP for East Surrey, said: ‘My thoughts are with the loved ones of the lady who has died following a dog attack in Caterham this afternoon. Thank you to the paramedics for their efforts at the scene and officers from Surrey Police who controlled the situation so quickly.’

Surrey County Council leader Tim Oliver said on Friday morning: ‘It’s a terrible incident. It just sounds absolutely shocking and I’m sure that the police will be following it up.

‘I don’t know what can be done but something needs to be done to prevent this from happening again, most certainly.’

Jenny Gaffney, Liberal Democrat Councillor at Tandridge District Council, said the community was shocked by the attack.

She said: ‘It’s absolutely shocking and it’s incredibly sad for the poor lady who died and the woman who has been injured. We’re all waiting to find out what happened. There’s an awful lot of speculation on social media at the moment which isn’t helpful for the family of the poor lady who died.’

The owners of dogs that kill someone can be jailed for up to 14 years or face an unlimited fine or both.

And even if there are no deaths, they can still face five years prison if it injures someone.

DID YOU WITNESS THE ATTACK? DO YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE INVOLVED? Email [email protected]

A large area of Surrey countryside has been sealed off by police as they continue to investigate after a woman, 28, was mauled to death by multiple dogs

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