Anne's dogs should be put down, says RSPCA

Princess Anne's English bull terrier should probably be put down after it savaged one of the Queen’s corgis, the RSPCA said in Britain today.

The Queen was said to be “absolutely devastated” after her corgi Pharos had to be destroyed following the attack just before Christmas.

The Princess’s bull terrier Dotty, short for Dorothy, also attacked two children in Windsor Great Park in November last year.

Anne became the first member of the British royal family to be given a criminal record when she was fined £500 (€713) for letting the dog run out of control.

The RSPCA, whose patron is the Queen, said its standard policy was for a dog to be put down, as the safest option, following a second serious attack.

A spokeswoman said: “As far as we know, no-one has called the police or the RSPCA so we are not involved in this case, and we don’t know the full circumstances.

“But if we were involved in the case, putting the animal down would be a seriously considered option.”

She added: “If a dog nips someone or a pet but causes no harm, you can almost forgive it.

“But if the dog bites a child, jogger or another human being and then the same dog goes on to kill another dog, chances are, given we knew the full circumstances and we were involved in the case, that we would recommend that the dog is put down as the safest option.

“It is no life for a dog to be permanently muzzled.”

The attack took place on Monday as the British royal family gathered at Sandringham in Norfolk.

Anne arrived with Dotty and as the door was opened by a servant the Queen’s corgi raced down to greet her. At that point Dotty bit Pharos on the legs, according to reports.

The Queen, who is convalescing after recent knee and facial surgery, is said to have heard the noise and walked outside but Pharos was already injured.