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A Metropolitan Police dog is recovering after suffering a fractured skull when rioters pelted officers with missiles in north London.
Obi, a three-year-old German shepherd, was on frontline duties in Tottenham on 6 August when he was injured.
His handler, PC Phil Wells, said they came under heavy bombardment with bottles, bricks and petrol bombs being thrown, and a brick hit Obi.
PC Wells said Obi had been signed off until he fully recovers.
Riot officers were called to Tottenham High Road when trouble flared following a peaceful march in protest at the fatal shooting by police of Mark Duggan.
PC Wells said: We were on a stationary point when we came under heavy bombardment.
There were lots of missiles coming at us, bottles, bricks, petrol bombs, street furniture, too many to count and one hit Obi on the top of the head.
PC Wells checked the dog over, who he said seemed fine, and they stayed on duty for about another two hours.
But afterwards it became clear he needed veterinary treatment.
He was lethargic and was bleeding from the left nostril which could be a sign of head trauma so he was taken to the vets and assessed, said PC Wells.
Full story and pic -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14529046
I would have thought it would be obvious when it was seen that this dog
had been hit on the head with a brick, that an internal injury 'could' have been
caused and this dog should have been taken away immediately.
While these dogs are great assets under normal circumstances, I don't
think they should be used in riots. Police officers have the protection of
special clothing, riot shields etc, but what protection do the dogs have ?
They are easy targets.
Obi, a three-year-old German shepherd, was on frontline duties in Tottenham on 6 August when he was injured.
His handler, PC Phil Wells, said they came under heavy bombardment with bottles, bricks and petrol bombs being thrown, and a brick hit Obi.
PC Wells said Obi had been signed off until he fully recovers.
Riot officers were called to Tottenham High Road when trouble flared following a peaceful march in protest at the fatal shooting by police of Mark Duggan.
PC Wells said: We were on a stationary point when we came under heavy bombardment.
There were lots of missiles coming at us, bottles, bricks, petrol bombs, street furniture, too many to count and one hit Obi on the top of the head.
PC Wells checked the dog over, who he said seemed fine, and they stayed on duty for about another two hours.
But afterwards it became clear he needed veterinary treatment.
He was lethargic and was bleeding from the left nostril which could be a sign of head trauma so he was taken to the vets and assessed, said PC Wells.
Full story and pic -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14529046
I would have thought it would be obvious when it was seen that this dog
had been hit on the head with a brick, that an internal injury 'could' have been
caused and this dog should have been taken away immediately.
While these dogs are great assets under normal circumstances, I don't
think they should be used in riots. Police officers have the protection of
special clothing, riot shields etc, but what protection do the dogs have ?
They are easy targets.
