Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

The victim of an alleged dog attack has hit out at Gwent Police for “complacency” while investigating the case – only receiving an update after Caerphilly Observer contacted the force.

Former careers advisor and author Arthur Hutt was walking his son’s dog, Suki, in Lewis Street, Blackwood, when the cavachon was set upon by a terrier-type dog.

Mr Hutt, 68, said: “We didn’t make it far when all of a sudden a dog appeared and clamped hold of Suki. She was making some of the most horrendous noises. I thought she was dead.

“I reached down to pull the dog off Suki, and it bit be on the hand. I spent six hours in the hospital and had to have my thumb nail reattached.”

Fortunately, Suki was unharmed but was left “shaken-up”, according to Mr Hutt.

When Mr Hutt got home from the hospital, he reported the attack and injury to Gwent Police, which took a statement from him.

That was back in May and Mr Hutt claims he has had little communication from the police, and that he is “astounded by their complacency”.

He added: “I just don’t want the dog to hurt anyone else”.

In an initial statement on Friday October 13, Gwent Police told Caerphilly Observer the force had yet to identify a suspect in relation to the dog’s owner, or the breed of the dog, and that enquiries were ongoing.

However, having had little contact from Gwent Police for five months, Mr Hutt then received a text from the force two hours after they gave a statement to Caerphilly Observer, in which the situation had changed.

The text to Mr Hutt from a Gwent Police officer read: “House- to-house enquiries have been completed along with CCTV enquiries. I have discussed this case with my sergeant and moving forward I have decided to establish the temperament of the owner’s dog that caused the injuries, along with issuing an Acceptable Behaviour Contract, where by the owner would have to abide by certain rules whilst having the dog.”

When asked by Caerphilly Observer if it had both identified the owner of the dog and breed of dog in the two hours since its statement, Gwent Police confirmed it had.

Gwent Police and Caerphilly County Borough Council recently launched a new scheme, called LEAD, encouraging responsible dog ownership following several high profile local dog attacks – including the deaths of ten-year-old Jack Lis and 83-year-old, Shirley Patrick, both from Penyrheol.

Chief Inspector Paul Biggs also said: “There’s an increased awareness of dog attacks among our communities, so we want to raise this further and work together to promote safe dog ownership.

“There is a shared commitment between all of the organisations involved in the initiative to keep the public safe.”

Mr Hutt concluded: “I just wanted an apology and for the police to confirm the dog isn’t dangerous. Suki is now traumatised, but it could have been a lot worse for both of us.”