The owner of a Jack Russell dog from the municipality of Boechout in Antwerp Province is mourning the loss of his pet after it was bitten to death by three Anatolian shepherd dogs that had broken loose. The news first appeared in the daily ‘Gazet van Antwerpen’ and has since been confirmed by VRT News sources. The Jack Russell was dragged off by the Anatolian shepherds while it was lying down on a terrace. The local mayor has taken measures against the owner of the three dogs that killed the Jack Russell. He is a sheep farmer from Ranst (Antwerp Province). It is not the first time that there has been an incident with the dogs.
The Jack Russell’s owner Koen Mortelmans told journalists that "On Wednesday I suddenly saw 3 big Anatolian shepherd dogs running and straight away an warning signal went off in my head. It all happened so quickly. I ran forward and tried to get the dogs off Obi, but it was too late”.
Obi the Jack Russell was 4 years’ old and his owner says that he was “a very well-behaved dog”.
"We are heart-broken, but also angry. This feels so unjust. That good little dog was just lying there not doing anyone any harm”.
The Anatolian shepherd dogs are owned by a sheep farmer from Ranst. They had previously attacked another dog. Then the dog they attacked survived. Koen Mortelmans says that urgent action needs to be taken to prevent this happening again.
“For my dog it’s already too late, but do we really have to wait until they attack a child? That’s what everyone is worried about now”.
Reported to the police
Koen reported the incident to the police. However, no complaint can be filed for incidents involving 2 animals. A complaint can only be lodged if a person is also involved.
The mayor of Ranst Johan De Ryck (nationalist) has taken measures in order to prevent any further incidents. "The dogs are no longer allowed on the public road and must be placed in an enclosed kennel," he explained. "The fence must also be repaired so that they can no longer escape."
"We have invited the sheep farmer to a hearing next week. There we will make further arrangements with him. If he fails to honour them, I can impose stricter measures such as the seizure of the dogs."