Police are investigating after a woman and her dog were injured in an attack by off-leash dogs in Palm Bay on Saturday (January 25).
Margaret Richardson, 70, was taking her eight-year-old dog Teddy for his evening walk but had not even reached the end of the path from the property when the attack took place.
Teddy suffered serious bite wounds while retired special needs care worker Margaret had a large bump on her head after being knocked over during the incident.
Margaret and husband Steve, who are staying in a winter rental while they wait to move to their new home in Palm Bay, say they now have footage of the attack, mainly from a Staffordshire Bull Terrier although a small Labrador type dog was also loose at the scene.
Margaret said: “I was just taking Teddy for his last walk of the day. I got out the front door and was walking up the path from the house when a lady came running towards me saying ‘my two dogs have got out.’
“Then they came towards Teddy and one jumped on him and, with the pressure of the dogs on him, I fell over.
“The little dog (Staff) did the majority of the damage, he just could not leave Teddy alone and locked on to him.
“The woman tried to get them off and said I should go back in the house but the little dog followed in.
“My poor little boy, it was dreadful.”
Teddy, who is a rescue dog the couple adopted while living in Spain, had to have a large number of stitches after being taken to the vets in Herne Bay.
The terrier stayed in overnight and has since been taken to the PDSA vets in Margate where he has been given painkillers and antibiotics. He also has to wear a cone for 15 days to protect the stitched areas.
Margaret said: “He has to wear the cone because his injuries are so bad.”
Margaret says she saw two women, one said she would leave a phone number but didn’t, and a third woman was also caught on the ring doorbell footage.
The attack has been reported to police and footage is due to be passed to officers.
Margaret said: “On the ring doorbell footage you can see the dogs running at Teddy and grabbing him but you can’t see the worst of it as that wasn’t covered {by the camera)
“He is not able to get comfortable on one side. It was absolutely horrific.”
A Kent Police spokesperson confirmed the incident is being investigated.
They said: “Kent Police has been made aware of an incident in Headcorn Gardens, Cliftonville at 9.55pm on Saturday 25 January in which a woman was injured after her dog was reportedly attacked by two other dogs.
“Officers are working to establish the full circumstances and anyone with information should call Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting 46/14463/25.”
The attack happened close to the area where two off-leash dogs bit a woman and her dog last month.
In that incident the owner of the two dogs in question was issued with a notice to keep her dog muzzled and on a lead when out of her home.
why people want these bull terrier type dogs is beyond me , all they are is a status symbol for losers , if the owner and these vile dogs are caught ( which i very much doubt again ) they should put all of them down .
Usually drug dealers for ‘protection’ from other lowlives or scummy dog fighting vermin. I would have gone back to my house as advised, got a knife from the kitchen drawer & stabbed their stupid little turd machines eyes out to get them off.
Simple law change would solve it-
1. Every dog has to be muzzled when out in public
2. Failure to do so & it attacks a human or another animal is an automatic five year jail sentence with no early release & the attacking dog is euthanised
3. Anybody who lets their dog foul in public & doesn’t pick it up & dispose of it in an appropriate bin or at home, goes to jail for 2 years. They also get taken to a park daily for that time & have their face rubbed in dog mess left by another irresponsible scumbag.
speedy recovery to teddy if its the same dogs then they need to be removed fro. the woman’s care and have checks done to see how safe they are around people and animals hope the owner of teddy is OK and not to shaken up
I hope a neighbour reports who those dogs belongs to, especially if they are the same 2 dogs as before. The police will know by the description of the dogs, woman and proximity of the incident. If they really care they will not have much investigating to do. The area in Headcorn Gardens is getting a bad name because of out of control dogs and owner.
I hope the lady and Teddy recover soon.
The dog should be put down ,it’s tasted blood
On this comment thread so far, “real world” has said that not just the dogs but the owner should be killed, and “Suspended GB News Anchor” has suggested that people who don’t clear up their dog’s faeces should be jailed for two years and taken out every day to have their face rubbed in somebody else’s dog’s faeces.
Whether these commentators are serious or not, are these the sort of comment that Isle of Thanet News’ readers want to read?
Nobody consider other people along there with there dogs think everyone loves there dog
This is also a case of Criminal Damage, if the police don’t take action because the dogs escaped and became “Dangerously out of Control”, then make them enforce the law to recover any financial costs as a result of poor Teddy’s injuries!
A couple of years ago as I was proceeding along Margate Road, near the viaduct on my mobility scooter, I saw a man ahead with a Staffy. I slowed down to less than walking speed, but as I passed the dog it leapt up hitting me on the shoulder, nearly knocking me off my scooter! The dog was barking furiously, and its jaws were an inch from my face and neck, before the owner managed to pull it off me! Had I reported this to the police they would have taken NO action, or at the least have told me to report it the RSPCA! Why? The RSPCA are not a branch of the police and would have taken no action! Its time the police enforced the law regarding domestic dogs, and all dogs when out in a public place should be muzzled!
OH MATE! 🤣 So YOU’RE the mobility scooter menace causing chaos on Margate Road! Bet you’re zooming around like some geriatric speed demon, terrorizing innocent Staffies minding their own business!
Your scooter’s probably got more battle scars than that dog – one inch from your face? Sounds like you’re exaggerating faster than you’re driving! 😂 Police won’t take action? Well, maybe they’re too busy dodging your mobility missile to file a report!
Muzzle ALL dogs? Mate, with that attitude, YOU should be the one wearing a muzzle! 🤭 Next time, stick to the mobility scooter lanes – oh wait, THERE AREN’T ANY!
Margate’s most wanted mobility menace strikes again! Watch out, viaduct – here he comes!
Jan.
Just how disrespectful are you?
I sincerely hope that one day you are in need of a mobility scooter and can then reflect on your present, self centred attitude to those with mobility problems. What a pleb you are!
Oh, the irony! The government doesn’t provide proper infrastructure for any save-the-planet transport—whether it’s mobility scooters, electric scooters, or anything else. Yet some people feel it’s fine to break the rules while others are paying through the nose just to get from A to B. Fair system, isn’t it?
And let’s not even start on driving into traffic, blocking paths, and losing the ability to make safe decisions—that’s somehow my fault too, right? Meanwhile, half the over-70 drivers shouldn’t even be on the road due to incompetence, but no one bats an eyelid. And as for kids? Well, don’t worry about them—this country’s policies clearly don’t!
So yes, maybe you should apply for a job at gov.com—you’d fit right in with that “me first” attitude. 😉
What a sad pathetic excuse for a human being you are Jan! My guess is your a bully, and all bully’s like racists are cowards! Bully’s want to make people feel as bad as they do about themselves. It’s likely you won’t have any family with your attitude, or friends, so I urge you to get professional help, because you need it! Now creep back under the stone you obviously came from. Oh yes, I do so hope you will become so disabled with life threatening diseases, that the only way you can get about is with a Mobility Scooter, but won’t be able to use one due to being visually impaired!
What a fascinating display of irony you’ve crafted here! You call me a “sad pathetic excuse for a human being” while simultaneously embodying the very definition of bullying yourself. It’s almost as if you’re trying to win an award for contradiction!
You label me a bully and then proceed to hurl insults and wish ill upon them—how wonderfully hypocritical! And let’s not forget your attempt to throw the “racist card” into the mix, as if that somehow strengthens your argument. It’s a classic tactic, but using it without any context or evidence only dilutes its meaning. In fact, false accusations of racism can undermine genuine cases and harm those who truly suffer from discrimination.
You suggest i will have no friends or family due to attitude, yet here you are, isolating yourself with your own vitriol. It’s almost like you’re trying to prove that bullies are indeed cowards—hiding behind a screen while throwing stones.
So, while you urge me to seek professional help, perhaps it’s time for you to reflect on your own words. After all, wishing someone life-threatening diseases isn’t just cruel; it’s a clear sign of someone who might need to look in the mirror themselves!
Jan you really do need help! The bone heads who attacked innocent women and children love people like you to justify their racist violence! There are hundreds of people like me, elderly, who have life threatening diseases, many as a result of their work like me in the nuclear industry, or due to service in the armed forces, again like me. I was still riding a bike into my late 70’s, until struck down by the side effects of a Covid vaccination, that was my fithe, and I wasn’t the only one! Without my mobility scooter I would be housebound, needing daily help, but it gets me out so I can have dinner at my favourite restaurant 5 days a week!
It seems like you’ve lost track of the conversation here! You jumped straight into the deep end with accusations of racism when that wasn’t even on the table. It’s like bringing a ukulele to a rock concert—totally out of place!
You mention boneheads attacking innocent people, but let’s focus on what really matters: you’re telling your story about being an elderly warrior navigating life with a mobility scooter after some serious health challenges. Kudos to you for still getting out there and enjoying dinner five times a week!
And while your experiences in the nuclear industry and military service are significant, they don’t quite connect to the whole “racism” angle you threw in. So let’s steer this conversation back on track, shall we? Keep sharing your adventures—just maybe leave the heavy accusations at the door next time!
I apologize if my previous comments missed the mark! I truly believe that the elderly deserve our respect, especially during these times. Wishing you all the best—take care!