Man, 42, killed after being attacked by ‘dangerous fighting dog’ as woman charged over fatal mauling
A MAN has been killed after being attacked by a dangerous “fighting dog” as cops charge a woman over the fatal mauling.
The 42-year-old victim was rushed to hospital after the horror on Shirley Road, in Stratford, London, at around 4:50am on Wednesday.
He tragically died a short while later, and cops have arrested and charged a woman in connection.
Leanne McDonnell, 32, from Stratford, has been charged with three offences.
They include owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.
The second charge is failing in the duty, as a person responsible for an animal, to ensure its welfare.
McDonnell’s third charge is having custody of a fighting dog.
The force confirmed McDonnell is also facing three counts of owning a dog dangerously out of control causing no injury, in relation to a separate incident on November 18.
She is set to appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court today.
The dog involved in both cases has been seized by police.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “A woman has been charged with offences related to having a dog dangerously out of control after a man sustained fatal injuries during an incident in Stratford.
“Police were called to Shirley Road, Stratford at 04:53hrs on Wednesday, 4 December following reports that a man had been seriously wounded.
Dangerous Dogs Act explained
After eleven horrific attacks in 1991, Home Secretary Kenneth Baker promised “to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs” by introducing the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The law is often considered controversial as it focuses on a dog’s breed or looks instead of an individual dog’s behaviour, and fails to stem the rise of dog attacks.
According to the RSPCA, over a third of the people killed by dogs since the act was brought in were attacked by legal breeds.
“The man, who was 42, was taken to hospital where he later died. A post mortem will take place in due course. His family has been informed.
“Leanne McDonnell, 32, of Shirley Road, Stratford was arrested and on Thursday, 5 December was charged with the following offences: owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, failing in the duty, as a person responsible for an animal, to ensure its welfare and having custody of a fighting dog.
“McDonnell was also charged with three counts of owning a dog dangerously out of control causing no injury, in relation to a separate incident on Monday, 18 November.
“She was remanded in custody to appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 6 December.
“The dog that was involved in the above incidents has been seized by the police.”
Fatal XL Bully attacks
A 10-year-old girl, locally named as Savannah, killed by her “new pet”, and XL Bully, on Friday November 1, 2024.
Woman in her 50s mauled to death at home by two XL Bully dogs in Hornchurch, East London on May 21, 2024.
Esther Martin, 68, was looking after her grandson in Jaywick, Essex, when dogs Bear and Beauty attacked her on February 3, 2024.
Ian “Scouse” Langley, 54, was protecting his puppy when the animal pounced on him outside a home in Sunderland in October 2023.
Ian Price, 52, was viciously savaged in September 2023 by the beasts as he tried to protect his elderly mum from them after they escaped.
Jonathan Hogg, 37, was killed in May 2023 entered the dog’s pen when it went for him, leaving bite wounds on his arm, leg and head.
Natasha Johnston, 28, was mauled to death while walking a pack of dogs in January 2023 was believed to have been killed by her own pet – an American Bully XL.
Shirley Patrick, 83, died 17 days after being mauled in a “hellish”, violent dog attack in December 2022.
Ian Symes, 34, who was known to friends as “Wiggy”, died at a recreation ground in Fareham, Hampshire, after the savage attack in August 2022.
Joanne Robinson, 43, was fatally mauled by pet Rocco at her home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire in July 2022.
Keven Jones, 62, went into cardiac arrest after being bitten by Cookie-Doe at Chanel Fong’s home in Wrexham, North Wales in May 2022.
Bella-Rae Birch, one, was mauled to death in March 2022 at her home by the American Bully XL.
Jack Lis, 10, was killed by a hulking XL Bully dog named Beast in November 2021 as he played at friend’s home in Caerphilly.