An investigation is being carried out into an incident during which a large dog attacked and killed a small dog in Hotwells at the weekend. The small dog, locally reported to be a chihuahua, was fatally injured by the larger dog at 3.15pm in Clifton Vale on Saturday, October 5.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson has now confirmed that a Cane Corso dog was seized after the smaller dog was fatally mauled in the attack, leaving its owner distraught. The force said officers are aware of a second dog kept at the property.
One local resident has claimed the second dog housed at the property is an XL Bully, which has been a banned breed in England since February this year. This has not been confirmed, but a spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said the dog seized was a Cane Corso, a breed of mastiff.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “I can confirm a Cane Corso dog has been seized. Officers are aware of reports of a second dog being kept at the property. Enquiries into the incident continue and anyone with information can get in touch by calling 101 and giving the reference 5224262752.”
An eyewitness at the time said the attack lasted only a couple of minutes and there was nothing the chihuahua owner could do as they saw their beloved pet get “dragged around” by a large dog roaming the area without a lead. According to one local witness, the Cane Corso had previously escaped from its flat and had garnered a reputation among the other residents.
A neighbour who witnessed the incident on Saturday said the attack on the chihuahua was quick and there was nothing its owner could have done. He said: “I was in my flat when I heard some shouting and barking. I went outside and I saw this large dog grab this little chihuahua.
“The little dog was being dragged about. The owner tried to separate the two dogs and tried to pull on the lead and take his dog out of the large dog’s reach but the large dog pulled on the dog and carried on attacking it.
“I went to speak to the owner of the chihuahua and they were very distraught. They were in shock. He said to me it was his fault and he should have walked round the back rather than out the front. But I told him it’s certainly not his fault but the fault of the other owner for not having his dog on a lead.”