FLOWERS and a teddy bear have been left on the spot where a dog was shot by police.

Witnesses have spoken of their shock after two dogs were shot dead by police in Bolton.

The animals were shot by armed officers yesterday morning after attacking two people in Queens Park.

A pack of five dogs, described by police as ‘Pit Bull’ type animals, were witnessed wandering off their leads in the park before biting a man.

It is believed the man had gone to the aid of a woman whose dog was harmed by the pack. A 38-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and remains in custody.

Bouquets of flowers and a soft toy have been left in tribute to the dogs at the site of the shooting in Deane Road.

WARNING: Video shows content some viewers may find upsetting 

uring the incident, a number of visitors to the park were cornered by the animals outside the Pavillion Café.

It was being used by parents with young children who had just completed the weekly Queens Park Juniors Run.

An employee of the café, who asked not be name, described the moment the dogs and the man believed to be their owner appeared outside.

She said: “A lady came in screaming that her dog, a Shih Tzu, had been attacked. We knew her because she’s a regular customer.

“Some of the race marshals stepped forward to help the woman.

“The dogs were all off the lead and got to the front of the cafe and our customers were trying to fend them off with chairs. They were telling the owner to put the dogs on the lead but he wasn’t responding.

“My supervisor started bringing people inside the cafe. We felt safe but the problem was the dogs had gone into a pack.

“The volunteer marshal was bitten, it had ripped right into his jeans and he was taken to hospital in an ambulance. Another man got scratched and was given a tetanus shot.

“The Shih Tzu was taken to the vets, and the woman was devastated.

“You get lots of dogs around here and the owners are all responsible, but I had never seen this man before.

“It was more upsetting than it was scary, I’m just upset for those dogs. The whole thing is not very nice.”

At around 10.20am, police say they were called to reports that five Pit Bull type dogs were behaving dangerously in the Chorley New Road park. 
Ambulance crews treated a man for injuries in the park and took him to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Armed response officers were called out and two dogs were shot and another two were caught in nearby Deane Road.

Officers also launched a search for another dog which was believed to be part of the group.

It is described as being large, short-haired and with a bulky, muscular build.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing it running off back towards Queens Park from Deane Road and police are reminding members of the public to remain vigilant.

It is believed the owner of the dogs was a former resident of Thorpe Road, Halliwell, who was evicted in June last year.

Residents said they were fearful of the animals, which they heard barking and were seen jumping at the windows, one of which holds a sign warning ‘Caution dogs running free’.

Dad-of-three Andrew Wooden, aged 46, has lived in the street for eight years.

He said: “I’ve got three young girls and every time the dogs went outside they used to run indoors. It wasn’t just my kids, others would run away too.

“You could hear them every time you walked past, they would just go mad every time.

“The amount of times the police, council, dog warden and RSPCA were called, you think they would have taken the dogs off him. It was a nightmare.

“They shouldn’t have been allowed to live like that.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, added: “I was worried about the dogs and so were the neighbours.

“It’s nothing personal, and it’s not the dogs’ fault, but they should have been taken away before this happened.”

A Bolton Council spokesman said community concerns over issues such as this, were taken very seriously, and it would provide all assistance necessary to support the police with their investigation.

He added that the council’s dog warden service only deals with stray dogs, and the council does not have the power to seize dogs from their owners.

While police continue to describe the dogs at ‘Pit Bull’ types, others say they believe the animals may be a type of American Bulldog.

READ MORE: Public urged to be vigilant as police continue to hunt danger dog

Former neighbour tells of fears living next door to dogs shot in Deane Road 

A local photographer who saw the footage of the police incident identified the dogs as ones she had met in Queens Park just last month.

She said: “People are blaming the breed of dog but that’s not right.
“They were nice dogs. The one with the patch over its eye, which I think was shot, was jumping up and licking me. They were really friendly.

“Another, a brown one, had just had puppies and you could tell it was a little agitated being away from them.

“In the right hands dogs are harmless, it’s all down to the owner.”
An RSPCA spokesman said: “This a really upsetting and concerning incident. We will be speaking to local police to establish exactly what happened as we are concerned for the dogs involved as well as the people.”

Anyone with information or footage of the dogs is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 869 of 02/04/17 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.