'Hand over your dogs or they'll ruin more lives' Victims'plea for hand-in.Byline: By NICK COLIGAN & ADRIAN BUTLER DOG attack victims today said they hoped the seven-day police hand-in would stop other people's lives being ruined. They urged owners of dangerous animals to come forward. They also backed a special hotline allowing worried residents to report neighbours who own illegal pets. The week-long hand-in started at 7am today and means people can voluntarily hand over banned breeds without the fear of being prosecuted. The special police hotline has also been set up so worried residents can alert the force to possible illegal dogs which are being kept in their community. Diane Young, 44, of Speke, says her life is in tatters tat·ter 1 n. 1. A torn and hanging piece of cloth; a shred. 2. tatters Torn and ragged clothing; rags. tr. & intr.v. after she was viciously attacked by two bull terrier-types being looked after by a neighbour. It is unlikely she will ever regain the use of her left arm and has had four operations and skin grafts. Ms Young said: "I think this is a brilliant idea and I hope people will support it. "This attack ruined my life and I would not wish it on my worst enemy. "I know not all dogs are nasty and it depends how they are brought up and treated, but some were bred for fighting and are very intimidating in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. . "I would certainly use the hotline to let the police know if I thought someone had a dangerous dog, especially if I knew I would not have to give my name." Nine-year-old Nikkita Douglas was attacked by a pit bull terrier pit bull terrier or Staffordshire terrier Dog breed developed in 19th-century Britain for fighting other dogs in pits. It was created by crossing the bulldog (which at the time was longer-legged and more agile) with a terrier, possibly the fox terrier. as she played outside her Norris Green History Norris Green is a large housing estate and council ward in Liverpool, England comprising some 1,500 dwellings, it is locally known as "Noggsy". It was built in the 1920s on land donated to the city by Lord Derby, who was at the time resident at nearby Knowsley home in May. More than eight months on, she still receives counselling for the attack and is terrified ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. of dogs. Her grandmother Nora Kelly, of Norris Green, said: "Before the attack, Nikkita played with dogs but now one only has to bark and she is hysterical. "I think the hand-in is a good idea, but I do not think the police will seize all of them. "I would rather have a pet put down than place my children at risk, but some people do not see the potential danger. "You cannot have an un-taxed, uninsured car, so why do people think it is OK to keep an illegal dog? "I would also like the police to act straightaway when someone reports a dangerous dog, not wait for three weeks before checking it out." nick.coligan@liverpool.com ECHO Essentials ANYONE who wants more details or wants to hand in their illegal dog should call Merseyside police Merseyside Police is the Home Office police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England. The force area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million. At present the force has 4,466 police officers plus over 2,000 police staff. on 0151-709 6010. Anyone with information about where illegal dogs are being kept, bred or used in illegal dog-fighting should call the police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Anyone who sees a dog acting dangerously in a public place, or who believes a dog to be out of control, should call the police on 0151-709 6010. In an emergency, always ring 999. CAPTION(S): HORRIFIC INJURIES: Dog attack victim Diane Young says her life is ruined after losing the use of her left arm and having four operations |
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