Pony and rider chased for three miles by out of control dog
Police are appealing for information on the owner of a large dog which chased a pony and rider for around three miles in the Scottish Borders.
At around 6.30pm on 19 May, a lady was riding her pony in the Gattonside area, near to the River Tweed.
A dog, thought to be a Rottweiler, broke away from its owner and began to chase the pair.
The rider galloped in the direction of Gattonside Mains Farm to try and lose the dog, but it continued to chase them for around three miles.
“This was a frightening experience for someone to go through and dog-owners must be aware of their responsibilities when taking their pets into rural areas,” said Inspector John Scott of Kelso Police Station.
“The chase began in a spot particularly popular with walkers as well as dog-owners and I would be interested to speak with anyone who was in the area around this time.
“I also urge the owner of this dog to contact police as soon as possible.”
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H&H has asked Police Scotland about the condition of the rider and the pony.
Officers are appealing for information to try and trace the dog’s owner.
Call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Education campaign
A joint campaign to educate dog and horse owners was launched earlier this year (news, 17 March).
As part of this, the British Horse Society (BHS), Blue Cross and the National Police Chief’s Council released a new advice leaflet.
“This informative and impartial leaflet will undoubtedly improve the lifestyle and safety of many like-minded animal lovers within our communities,” said PC Keith Evans, dog legislation officer on the national dangerous dogs working group.
The number of dog-related incidents reported to the BHS’s online log increased from 166 in 2014 to 250 in 250 in 2015 — a rise of 50%.
To report an incident to the BHS, visit www.bhs.org.uk/safety-and-accidents/report-an-incident
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.