Members of the public intervened to capture a bulldog that was attempting to bite the legs of two police horses during their patrol in London.
Officers were riding the Metropolitan police horses, Yvonne and Snaffles, when the unruly dog began snapping at them.
This event took place on Monday morning in Shepherd’s Bush Green, and it was recorded on the body-worn camera of one of the officers involved.
The video shows 13-year-old Yvonne attempting to evade the dog, which dashed back and forth between the horses as its owner struggled to regain control.
Ultimately, bystanders stepped in and managed to secure the dog, which was subsequently returned to its owner.
Investigations are ongoing, and no arrests have been made thus far.
Sgt Leon Astley, who was patrolling with PC Grace Miller-McCormack during the incident, remarked: “What should have been a standard patrol unexpectedly turned into a rather eventful day, resulting in injuries to our dedicated police horses while they fulfilled their duties.
“Thankfully, both Yvonne and Snaffles are recovering well and are receiving care in their stables.
“Although horses are a rare sight in the city, we urge all pet owners to keep their dogs leashed and under control to avoid similar incidents in the future.”
The Met is encouraging any witnesses to step forward.
Yvonne, easily identifiable by her prominent ears, has been serving as a police horse since October 2020, while 15-year-old Snaffles has previously participated in the Mounted Branch’s performance at Olympia and has been involved in public order policing in central London.
According to the Metropolitan Police, a person can face an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison for having a dog that is deemed seriously out of control. If the dog injures someone, the penalty could rise to a maximum of five years in prison.
