After a 20-year-old man was detained in connection with the incident, the brother of a dog walker who was mauled to death by a ‘XL Bully’ after he ‘collapsed’ in a park has paid homage.
Ian ‘Wiggy’ Symes, 34, was walking a customer’s dog at a leisure field in Fareham, Hampshire, on Hilson Drive on Wednesday when he was assaulted. Locals believe Mr Symes fainted and had a seizure before the dog he was with ‘eating’ a portion of his face. Despite the fact that paramedics hurried to the scene in Fareham, Hampshire, Mr Symes was declared dead shortly after.
The 20-year-old owner of the dog, which residents believe was an XL Bully, was detained for being in charge of a ‘dangerously out of control’ animal. According to a spokeswoman, the individual has been freed without charge but is still being investigated.
According to MailOnline’s sources, the dog is an XL Bully, which is not a prohibited breed.
Martin Symes, Ian’s father-of-two brother, has since visited the park where flowers and cards were left, and in a poignant tribute, he said: ‘The previous 30 hours have been extremely surprising and very difficult to fully grasp what occurred and why.’
Thank you for all of your words and tributes to my brother. The flowers and comments put on the field are quite moving.
‘It’s crazy to think of all the memories I had playing football on that field and the laughter I had in school that have all been erased by the event that occurred.’
‘The facts are that he was out walking a dog, something he enjoyed doing, and as awful as it is, he died doing something he enjoyed.’
Martin concluded by writing to his late brother, ‘I’m not particularly religious, but I think you go to a better place, and no doubt he’ll be up there already walking his dogs.’ Brother, rest in peace.’
Joanne Robinson, 43, was mauled to death by an American Bully dog in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, this month after it ‘went insane in the intense heat.’
The other six casualties of dog maulings this year include three toddlers and a three-month-old newborn.
Mr Symes, from Fareham, is shown on social media smiling while posing with pet Rottweilers.
A woman who lives near the recreation area claimed the first responders discovered Mr Symes had sustained horrible face injuries.
‘We were at the park before the cops came,’ claimed the mom, who was photographing her little daughter at the time.
Dangerous dog law in the United Kingdom
What exactly is the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991?
The Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 prohibits or limits certain breeds of dogs and makes it a crime to let a dog of any breed to get dangerously out of control.
After a series of assaults, Home Secretary Kenneth Baker proposed it 30 years ago to “rid the nation of the danger of these fighting dogs.”
Which canines are prohibited in the United Kingdom?
Without a court order, it is unlawful to possess four kinds of dogs. They are as follows:
American pitbull terriers; Japanese Argentine tosas; Fila Brazileiro
The legislation also criminalizes cross-breeds of the aforementioned four varieties of dog, which means that whether a dog is illegal will be determined by a physical examination and if its physical attributes fit the definition of a prohibited ‘type.’
What happens if a dog attacks?
If your dog is dangerously out of control, you might face an unlimited fine or up to six months in jail.
You may be denied the right to possess a dog in the future, and your dog may be destroyed.
If you allow your dog to damage someone, you might face up to five years in jail or a fine. If you intentionally use your dog to damage someone, you might face charges of’malicious wounding.’
If you enable your dog to murder someone, you might face up to 14 years in jail or an infinite fine.
What are the reasons behind the Act’s criticism?
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association have also spoken out against the ban, claiming that there is no scientific proof that all members of a breed are hazardous.
However, according to Met Police statistics, prohibited breeds account for almost one-fifth of all instances involving ‘dangerously out of control dogs.’
‘He was a very helpful individual. He would come over and offer to do things like gardening. He also used to walk people’s pets for them. It seems to be an unfortunate accident.’
‘People have suggested it was an XL Bully dog who attacked him, but we don’t know for sure,’ added another neighbor. I asked the cops whether they had the dog since I had children, and they claimed they did.’
Another local who lives near the park stated she has known ‘Wiggy’ since they were youngsters.
The lady, who did not want to be identified, claimed Mr Symes’ father had been to her home to inform them of his son’s untimely demise.
‘[Symes’] father came around and informed us it was his son who had died,’ she claimed. He was out walking his dog, however it wasn’t his dog that attacked him.
‘We met on vacation on the Isle of Wight when I was around eight years old. It’s such a surprise… He was really popular, and he was very polite to me.’
Julie, who works as a caregiver in the neighborhood, claimed there were a lot of enormous ‘fighting dogs’ about.
‘There are a lot of individuals around here who have enormous dogs, typically what I’d call fighting-type canines,’ she said. ‘We see them marching along Highlands Road, towards the stores.’
‘We are speaking to others in the vicinity and doing other lines of inquiry to determine how the guy died,’ said a Hampshire Police spokeswoman.
‘As part of our investigation, a 20-year-old Fareham man was detained on suspicion of being the owner/person in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control, causing damage and death.’
‘He has been freed from detention without charge, but his case is still being investigated.’
It comes amid a wave of dog attacks around the UK, some of which have resulted in fatalities.
Joanne Robinson, a mother of two, was mauled to death by her beloved American Bully XL dog last month when it ‘went wild in the intense heat.’
The 43-year-old was killed at the site of the incident in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
She is said to have been the owner of the animal, named Rocco, which is on the list of approved dog breeds.
Last week, a three-year-old child in Hampshire sustained life-changing injuries after being attacked by a Doberman pinscher.
Police confiscated the dog, and a 44-year-old woman was detained in connection with the incident.
The Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 prohibits or limits certain breeds of dogs and makes it a crime to let a dog of any breed to get dangerously out of control.
After a series of assaults, Home Secretary Kenneth Baker proposed it 30 years ago to “rid the nation of the danger of these fighting dogs.”
Without a court order, it is unlawful to possess four kinds of dogs. They are as follows:
American pitbull terriers; Japanese Argentine tosas; Fila Brazileiro
The legislation also criminalizes cross-breeds of the aforementioned four varieties of dog, which means that whether a dog is illegal will be determined by a physical examination and if its physical attributes fit the definition of a prohibited ‘type.’
If your dog is dangerously out of control, you might face an unlimited fine or up to six months in jail.
You may be denied the right to possess a dog in the future, and your dog may be destroyed.
If you allow your dog to damage someone, you might face up to five years in jail or a fine. If you intentionally use your dog to damage someone, you might face charges of’malicious wounding.’
If you enable your dog to murder someone, you might face up to 14 years in jail or an infinite fine.