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Owner of 60 dogs on the run after neighbours are mauled
Ellen Widdup19 Feb 2009
THE owner of a multi-million pound house allowed her pack of 60 dogs to attack and terrorise her neighbours - leaving one in need of plastic surgery.
Tracy Thier is on the run after being given an Asbo for letting the animals howl all night, wander on to railway lines and savage members of the public.
One woman was mauled so badly by two Alsatians she had to have extensive plastic surgery.
A young man jogging past the estate needed emergency surgery after another Alsatian jumped out.
Miss Thier, who owns the Grade II-listed Beltwood House, in a 3.5-acre estate in Sydenham Hill, Dulwich, was banned from keeping animals.
She was ordered to hand over her pets and to pay costs of £50,000 to Southwark council. But the 49-year-old refused to pay the fine and received an order for bankruptcy.
She then breached the terms of her Asbo in January last year by keeping five more dogs at a property in Lambeth, and before any action could be taken against her, fled Britain.
Council officers are seeking to have her home repossessed and police have issued a warrant for her arrest.
A spokesman for the council said: "There were numerous attacks on members of the public, which resulted in some horrific injuries.
"At one point she had around 60 dogs in her home, mostly Alsatians. She called herself an animal lover but clearly wasn't. The animals were neglected and in very poor condition."
Six people were injured by Miss Thier's dogs in a three month period. Police received a further 48 complaints from people who had been chased.
Miss Thier, an American, bought the property for £1.1million in 2001.
She kept around 20 horses and 60 dogs on the premises as well as several peacocks but the RSPCA began an investigation last year over neglect.
Dozens of sick dogs were removed by Battersea Dogs Home and two Alsatians and a cross-breed were destroyed. The horses, many showing signs of neglect, were taken by The International League for the Protection of Horses.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "It was an ongoing saga which resulted in people getting horrific injuries, several children being chased and one man having a nervous breakdown and leaving the area."
Reader views (11)
I love dogs and growing up never knew anybody who had problems with their dogs, as they were decent, responsible owners who looked after their animals properly. Even if you have no interest in dogs or dislike them, you should realise that it is not the dogs' faults when they get out of control, that is down to the ignorance of the owners. Because unfortunately you do not need to demonstrate any braincells to buy a dog. I am all for much, much tighter controls on animal ownership in general, to reduce the unnecessary neglect that so many animals suffer, and if that encourages more people to realise what wonderful companions our canine friends can be - or at the very least not be afraid of them - then that would be a great thing.
In the meantime, I hope the authorities throw the book at the American in this story - both for the anxiety and injuries she has inflicted on her human neighbours and the neglect on the animals for which she is responsible.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 20/02/2009 10:40
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There seems to be two types of dog woner. Some are getting better and keep them under control and these days clear up after them. Then there are the menaces to society who seem to revel in letting their dogs run rough-shod over the rest of us. I think we are turning the corner, before long there will be much greater legal control over dogs and the lawless minority.
- Martin H. Watson, teddington, 20/02/2009 09:24
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The dogs merely reflect the owners attitude, and if the dogs are out of control, what about their kids?
- Hugh, Middx, 19/02/2009 16:53
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I agree with Martin H - bring back licences. There should be sliding scale for the license - minimal fee for dogs such as poodles, slightly higher for labradors, and then extortionately expensive for alsatians, bull dogs, etc (eg £2500 per dog) payable within 6 weeks of the birth of the dog (and provision made that in that time dogs can be taken to the RSPCA/dogs home/etc to either be put down or kept and licensed). The cost of the license would pay for all dogs to have a chip inserted with the owner's details (who have provided ID) - making it easier to trace them if a dog attacks anyone. If the dog was sold then it would be the original owner's responsibility to get the correct ID of the new owner and register it. Random checks on dogs - showing no chip would result in prosecution (and fined double the amount a licence would have cost) for the person walking the dog. For the elderly or the infirm who rely on dogs for companionship they would be entitled to a free licence for a small range of 'safe' dogs, if they wanted a higher scale dog they would have to pay the same licence fee as everyone else.
- Andy, London, 19/02/2009 16:30
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I was chased and bitten by a dog as a child so i am petrified of dogs. I would cross the street to avoid a dog and on one occassion sobbed with fear in a packed train carriage when a dog sniffed about my legs. I know the fear its irrational but dog owners should have a duty to keep dogs away from the public. Dogs cannot be compared to children. They bite, cause pain and have been known to kill innocent babies.
- Shirley, Oxford, UK, 19/02/2009 15:43
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What difference would having a dog licence have? I remember going to buy them. You just handed over your 37.5p or whatever at the post office and got given the thing. It's not like anyone checked you were fit to keep the dog or followed up on it if you didn't have one for that matter. It was totally down to the individual to do it as I remember. Whatever the equivalent of 37 and a half pence is nowadays would not make any odds to an American psycho like the one in this story.
- Raddled Of Radlett, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, 19/02/2009 14:18
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Yes and we have one of those as well. Been going on for 4 years now. The only difference is the dogs haven't bitten anyone yet. They just terrorise, chase, foul everywhere, kill cats and other small animals including another dog. Apparently this is ok! Complaints have been raised to the RSPC and they said they know about her and have removed animals in the past. Complaints have been made to the council and the police. The council when sent photos of the dogs loose and fouling said this wasn't enough proof. The police said I should catch the snarling, aggressive dog and put it on a lead and bring it in as a stray! Great advice -huh? This is women with knife carrying thug sons who make up a family crime wave. If the dog doesn't get me they will.
- Simone, Caterham, 19/02/2009 14:14
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Bring back the DOG LICENCE. You need a licence to go fishing, drive a car, own a gun or use a television.
- Martin H, Hitchin, 19/02/2009 13:46
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As a dog owner I have to agree with Zaphod.
You do love them like children and do become very over protective of them. I am guilty of this, my dog has barked in a threatening manner at people for no reason and has on one occasion nipped someone.
I was truly mortified and very sorry and I made excuses for him. The lady concerned, although more alarmed did report him to the police, (after my son willingly giving her our home details.) and rightly so, I would do the same.
He is by nature a grumpy dog, although very loving to the family.
You may say he is badly trained but for 90% of the time he walks with no bother but then he just takes a dislike to someone and becomes (what others would perceive as aggressive), I know it will sound like an excuse but I think he feels threatened by some people and tries to 'protect' me.
Not good enough I know but we now take him to fields and woods where he is unlikely to come across such situations.
I do feel a failure as a dog owner when he behaves like this.
- Janey C, inverness scotland, 19/02/2009 13:39
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Exactly what is the point of the RSPCA?
- Thomas, London, 19/02/2009 12:59
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I have to say, I find dog-owners to be less than reasonable about their dog's misbehaviour. On a couple of different occasions I've had to approach owners about keeping their dogs under control e.g. not letting them run at people, excessive barking, etc. In each case, the ownser was unrepentant and bhaeved as though the dog was a blameless angel and I was at fault.
Not sure how to explain their attitude.
- Zaphod, zanzibar, 19/02/2009 12:38
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