A Bedford Borough woman has launched a national campaign calling for compulsory dog owner insurance after her beloved pet was mauled to death by another dog, leaving her traumatised and saddled with thousands of pounds in vet bills.
Readers are advised that this story contains descriptions that may be distressing to some.
Joanne Newbury, 54, from Stagsden, said she has been left “heartbroken, exhausted and out of pocket” after her gentle 10-year-old cockapoo, Murphy, was fatally attacked by a dog three times his size while out on a walk.
Despite the other dog’s owner admitting responsibility and giving a statement to the police, Joanne says she is now being forced to pursue them through the small claims court to recover £3,500 in emergency vet bills, which she had to put on a credit card.
She is now calling on the government to make third-party pet insurance mandatory, saying it would prevent victims like her from being left to foot the bill. Her campaign, called ‘Murphy’s Law,’ is gathering support online.
“When you get pet insurance, you think it’s for when your dog gets ill,” she said. “You don’t think about it in this context. It has been absolutely horrific – dealing with this on top of the grief and trauma of losing him.”
The attack happened just a week before what would have been Murphy’s tenth birthday. Joanne said she was walking him on a lead along a quiet lane when she saw a large dog, off its lead, in a nearby field.
“I thought I’d avoid the field because Murphy was anxious, but one of them came charging and just went for him. He didn’t stand a chance.”
“He went through hell”
Murphy suffered catastrophic injuries, including four broken ribs, internal bleeding, and a torn back muscle so severe the vet could see his lungs. Despite emergency surgery, he died the following day.
“He went through hell,” said Joanne.
The tragedy came just months after Joanne and Murphy raised £1,500 for Cancer Research UK by walking 125 miles together.
“Everyone in the village and on social media felt like they knew him,” she said. “I lost my other dog just 14 months earlier. This has compounded everything. It’s affected me massively, and I’ve even had to take time off work.”
Although the other dog’s owner admitted fault to the police, Joanne says they have “acted like the victim” and refused to cover her costs.
“Financially, I shouldn’t be in this situation when I was responsible and had insurance. But it’s all on me to chase it through the courts. It’s exhausting.”
Her petition calls for dog owners to be legally required to hold third-party liability insurance, similar to car insurance, so victims are not left to bear the cost when someone else’s pet causes harm.
“Murphy was everything to me,” she said. “No one should have to go through this. I want to make sure it never happens to another family.”
You can support the campaign and sign the petition here.
