Dog attack: Swan mauled to death near the Serpentine in Hyde Park
A dog has mauled a swan to death in Hyde Park.
The Metropolitan Police received a report of a dog killing one of the much-loved birds near the Serpentine at around 11.30pm on Sunday.
In a statement the force warned dog owners to keep a close watch over their pets.
A police spokesperson said: “Just a reminder to all dog owners to keep their animals under control.
“Several offences may have been committed in this case including under The Royal Parks Regulations.
“Unless the Secretary of State’s written permission has first been obtained, no person using a park shall cause or permit any animal or bird of which he is in charge to chase, worry or injure any other animal or bird.”
In January the Standard revealed an extra 600 dog attacks took place across London in 2023.
Last year there were 3,389 dog attacks in the capital, 613 more than the year before, a Freedom of Information request found.
Most recently, armed police with riot shields were scrambled to an east London house where a mother was mauled to death by her two XL Bully dogs on Monday.
Officers seized the dogs after the victim, named locally as Angeline Mahal, was savaged inside the house in Hornchurch.
Also on Monday, a 27-year-old man pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control after another man and his dog were attacked by two XL bully dogs in Bushy Park.
The Metropolitan Police said two XL bullies who were off their leads attacked a park user and his dog during the incident last May.
The dogs were seized by police.
The 27-year-old man, named only as Mr Van Heer by police, will be sentenced on July 25.
The police have asked anyone who has any knowledge of the swan attack to call 101 and quote CAD 8174/19.05.2024.
