Thetford Forest dog attack sees man fined after two Yorkshire terriers killed

A man has been fined more than £1,100 and an order placed on a dog following an ‘extremely distressing’ incident which saw two Yorkshire terriers killed.

The incident was on Wednesday, October 2023 at Thetford Forest when a woman was walking her two Yorkshire terriers, named Mia and Minnie, along Fire Route Four at around 6.15pm.

A large black cane corso began to chase Mia and, while this was happening, the terriers’ owner lost sight of Minnie but could hear her yelping nearby.

Mia managed to escape and return to her owner, however, the large dog then picked her up again before a second cane corso appeared – chasing the first attacking dog which ran around with the terrier in its mouth.

Harry Harper, 27, owner of the second cane corso, was able to get Mia back from the dog – however, the terrier then died in her owner’s arms.

Minnie could not be found so the owner returned home, distraught at what happened.

She returned to the forest later that night with a neighbour to search for Minnie but could not find her.

Minnie was found dead by a man who volunteered to search the forest and returned her body to her owner.

PC Georgia Goreham, of the Forest Heath response investigation team, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident for the victim, who was understandably devastated at the death of her two dogs in this manner.”

CCTV footage captured Harper and a woman walking with the two cane corsos along Highbury Road towards Thetford Forest at 6.22pm and then walking away along the same road at 7.20pm.

Harper, of Tickham Lane, Lynsted, near Sittingbourne in Kent, contacted Suffolk Police after a media appeal was launched on Thursday, October 5 and he said that he was walking the dogs that had been involved in the incident – however, he said he did not own the dog which killed Mia, called Tammy, but he was looking after it.

Tammy was returned to the breeder the day after the incident.

Harper’s dog, called John, was from the same litter as Tammy.

Harper has been ordered to pay £800 compensation, a £162 fine, £130 victim surcharge and £85 costs after appearing at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich on Thursday, July 11.

He was also issued a Contingent Destruction Order for Tammy with orders to get the dog neutered as soon as possible, it must be securely fit with a muzzle and securely held on a lead by a person who is no less than 16-years-old.

If these orders are not adhered to, then action will follow for the dog to be destroyed.

Harper previously pleaded guilty to two counts of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control.

PC Goreham added: “This incident caused a lot of concern in the local community, so I hope this outcome demonstrates that we will take positive action wherever possible with cases such as this.

“This should serve as a stark warning to people that if you are walking a dog that is not yours, or whose temperament you cannot be certain of, then it is imperative to keep it under control and on a lead at all times.”