Boxers, bull terriers and rottweilers are thrown out after the death of a young girl

PANICKING owners are dumping dogs following the death of Ellie Lawrenson, who was savaged by her uncle's pit bull terrier on New Year's Day.

Worcestershire has seen an increase in abandoned dogs from certain breeds since five-year-old Ellie was mauled in her grandmother's home in St Helens, Merseyside.

County dog kennels say people are panicking in the wake of the attack and dumping breeds such as Staffordshire bull terriers because they are mistaking them for banned breeds such as pit bulls.

Pit bulls, Japanese tosas, dogo Argentinos and fila Brazilieros are the only dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, although animals from other breeds can be destroyed if they display aggressive behaviour.

Pip Singleton, a dog warden with Wychavon District Council, has reported a rise in the number of stray rottweilers, German shepherds, Staffordshire bull terriers, Staffordshire cross-breeds and boxer crosses. The Danemere kennels in Tibberton has places for 10 dogs but now houses 15 strays - 80 per cent higher than usual.

Ms Singleton said: "We think people are dumping dogs because they are panicking.

"Our message is that there is no need to panic. All of these dogs have a lovely nature. We understand what happened in Merseyside was terrible but it was isolated.

"Be responsible for the dog you own, do the right thing by the dog and you're doing the right thing by society and by children. It's how they are handled, looked after and socialised that is important.

"People are jumping on the bandwagon and thinking Oh my God' and they are just chucking out their dogs. We have had people phoning us up saying we have a Staffordshire bull terrier - is that a type of pit bull?' There is ignorance about what type of dog is and is not allowed in the country."

Worcester City Council also recorded a higher than average number of Staffordshire bull terriers abandoned - 11 dogs of the 43 found roaming the streets between September and January. January figures are still being collated.

However, Martin Gillies, environmental health manager at the council, said the overall number of strays had fallen from 215 in 2003 to around 70 dogs last year.

Dog owners in Worcester are forced to pay statutory fines, kennel costs and administration fees to have their dogs returned.

Meanwhile, Eve Bowen, relief manger at Worcestershire Animal Rescue Centre, Deblins Green, near Malvern has also reported a rise in the number of Staffordshire bull terriers - six or seven are now waiting to be rehomed and people are not wanting to take them anymore.

A spokesman for the Dogs Trust rehoming centre in Wickhamford, Evesham, said they also had a lot of Staffordshire bull terriers and German shepherds at the moment.

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