Bev Farmer lives in Spain and has a wealth of experience both as a podenco owner, a foster mom of podencos and also training podencos. Earlier this week, one of her podencos was the victim of a vicious unprovoked attack. Bev explains.

‘I have always questioned why its necessary to have a dangerous dog license in Spain. As a owner of dobermans for many years I am very comfortable with the bigger more powerful breeds of dogs. Now I know why a licence is necessary.

Jazzy, one of my Podencos, was attacked by a German Shepherd and it punctured her thorax, which now requires drains in to allow infection to drain away, numerous deep puncture wounds and of course stitches due to a large hole in her side. She is in a lot of pain, very miserable and scared.

I had my dog on her lead and the owner was on the other side of the road with her dog on the lead. It pulled free and raced over, never giving us a chance and in a matter of seconds inflicted these injuries. The owner’s response to this, what’s the problem, you can’t do anything about it and walked off leaving me stood there with Jazzy screaming.

I have no problems with German Shepherds but I have a problem with people owning them and having no control over them. I have now discovered that this dog has done this before and the previous dog attacked had to have major surgery. Because of that the owner of the German Shepherd has been told by the police to walk this dog with a muzzle on. She obviously thinks she knows better, what will it take for her to be a responsible owner?’

I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing Jazzy a 100% recovery, but who knows what fear she will carry with her, if approached by a big dog again?