Jemma And Gus Brown Campaign For Tougher Laws For Protection Of Guide Dogs

A BLIND Southampton student is calling for tougher laws after her guide dog was attacked twice in eight days by dogs off their leads.

The attacks have shaken the confidence of Jemma Brown, who is registered blind, and left her guide dog Gus nervous around other dogs.

The 21-year-old is angry that owners are not taking responsibility for their dogs and is urging council bosses to take action before someone is seriously hurt.

The unprovoked attacks on her dog happened while they were walking through the city centre, the first in the High Street, which saw a boxer dog pin Gus to the ground by his throat.

Four-year-old Gus was left concussed and unable to work, leaving Jemma stranded until she was able to find help.

A survey carried out by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association found the number of attacks on guide dogs is increasing, with three attacked every month in the UK.

Having faced the trauma of three such attacks in less than a year, Jemma is desperate for Southampton City Council to introduce a by-law that would prohibit dogs from being off their leads in the city centre.

Luckily for Jemma brave Gus has recovered and is backing working as her guide, but for many other dogs the trauma leaves them so nervous that they have to retire.

Jemma said: “Gus has changed my life, giving me so much confidence and independence, so I want to protect him. Physically he was not badly injured but psychologically he has suffered a lot.

“Having this law is a simple measure, yet it would mean so much to guide dog owners who would no longer need to fear a sudden unprovoked attack.

“People need to be aware that these are working dogs and we rely on them. Something needs to be done because next time it could be a child who is attacked.”

Supporting Jemma is the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, which pays £50,000 to maintain one guide dog during its lifetime.

Tim Stafford, from the Southampton Guide Dog team, said: “When a guide dog is attacked it is effectively an attack on the owner which has a serious impact on them both.

“An attack on a guide dog has a huge financial cost to the charity, as well as the emotional burden for the owner, who could lose their dog and forced to retrain with another because some dogs never recover and have to retire.”

A spokesman from Southampton City Council said they were looking at measures to crackdown on irresponsible owners of dogs.

He added: “We are aware of the problem and we are working to tighten laws regarding dogs on leads in certain areas of the city and we hope to implement these within the next 18 months.”