Man dies after recently seized dog attacks him in street

A man has died after being attacked by a dog that was seized by police two months ago and released back to its owner last week.

David Ellam, 52, was walking his Yorkshire terrier, Rolo, near his home in the Sheepbridge area of Huddersfield on Monday when he was mauled by another dog. He was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and pronounced dead at 9pm.

Rolo was also injured and received emergency veterinary care.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The other dog, which has been detained in kennels, had previously been seized by West Yorkshire Police in June following concerns from the public that it was a dangerous breed. It was returned to its owner on 8 August after a screening determined it was not on the banned breed list.

The owner, a 29-year-old man, has been arrested in connection with Ellam's death and released on bail pending further enquiries.

Locals told the Yorkshire Post the dog, believed to be a bitch called Alex, looked like a Staffordshire bull terrier-labrador crossbreed, neither of which are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

"Mr Ellam was trying to shield his terrier as the attack dog clamped its jaws around his head, according to witnesses," says the paper. "They said the animal ripped at his kneecap before shaking his head 'like a rag' as it attempted to drag him into its kennel."

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Swift, who is leading the investigation, said: "Clearly our thoughts go out to the family at this tragic time. They are understandably devastated by what has happened and are being supported by specially trained officers."

West Yorkshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.