THREE snarling rottweiler dogs brought terror to a school as children
arrived for lessons yesterday morning.
Four boys were savaged when the dogs attacked them in the playground
of Bishop Stopford Church of England school in Brick Lane, Enfield,
London. One dog managed to get into a classroom.
An 11-year-old was left covered in blood, with what looked like holes
all over him, his mother said afterwards.
Kevin Bone, who needed 14 stitches in wounds to his back and arms, was
''stripped to the waist -- the dog had virtually ripped his shirt off,''
said Mrs Brenda Bone.
Gavin Perry, also 11, had his right ear almost torn off but doctors
managed to stitch it back on.
''He's got bites on the back of his head, his bottom, and both of his
legs,'' said his mother, Mrs Janet Perry.
All four boys needed stitches, injections, and treatment for shock in
hospital. Two others suffered bruises.
Children screamed and fled as the dogs -- named Samson, Kane, and Bass
-- burst into the playground.
Dr Roger Tiffen, a deputy head, said: ''The dogs were running after
the children and seizing them.
''Two dogs had seized a boy (Kevin Bone). He was shouting and
screaming for help.''
With other staff, he helped to free Kevin. ''The dogs were distracted
and released him. He had several teeth marks on his arm.''
Richmond Bennin, 17, jumped through the window of the sixth-form
common room to help Kevin. ''There were two dogs. It seemed they were
just biting him to shreds.
''He was screaming. I tried to help him, but one of the dogs came
after me, so I jumped back in.''
Meanwhile, one of the dogs had got into the school. As it sniffed
around the legs of terrified pupils, teachers told them to stand
absolutely still.
Maths teacher Mr Mike Fuller finally grabbed the animal and took it
outside. After 10 minutes police arrived and two of the dogs were
rounded up.
However, dog handlers and RSPCA wardens searched for the third until
11am, when it was caught on the A10 by voluntary RSPCA worker Mr Steve
Hussey, passing in his car.
Despite being upset, the children of Bishop Stopford got on with their
lessons.
The owner of the rottweilers, Mrs Doris Brown, 55, of Ponders End,
Enfield, appeared in court at the start of a hearing to decide whether
the dogs should be destroyed.
She said they escaped through a neighbour's back gate after her fence
was blown down.The case was adjourned until Monday.
As Kevin Bone recovered at home in Sedcote Road, Enfield, his mother
said the rottweilers should be destroyed.
''I know people who have rottweilers. Kevin has been brought up with
dogs himself. We have two dogs, a boxer and a dobermann cross.
''But these three dogs were out of control and after what they have
done they have no right to live.''
The incident brought renewed calls for dangerous dogs to be outlawed.
The National Union of Teachers said Parliament should consider banning
rottweilers as domestic pets.
However, local MP Mr Timothy Eggar, Employment Minister, while
''horrified'', said: ''The Government introduced new laws relating to
dangerous dogs in August last year.
''It is now up to the court to decide the most appropriate course of
action to take in this case.''
The ferocity of rottweilers attracted major attention last April when
11-year-old Kellie Lynch, of Dundee, was killed in an attack by two of
the dogs at Dunoon, Argyll.
She and an 11-year-old friend were walking the dogs, belonging to the
owner of their holiday hotel, when the animals attacked.
Weeks later three rottweilers savaged five-year-old Jamie Walker, of
Small Heath, Birmingham, in a park, tossing him in the air. Jamie needed
21 stitches for his injuries after being dragged from his bicycle by the
dogs.
Last month a rottweiler bit Conservative MP Anthony Beaumont-Dark as
he took a morning walk in Westminster.
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