Horrifying moment dog attacks deer in Richmond Park as owner fined £600

A dog owner has been convicted of letting his pet chase and maul a deer in Richmond Park.

Police today released footage of the attack taken by a cyclist who formed a barrier with other passers-by to try to protect the animal, which had to be put down.

It shows Franck Hiribarne’s Red Setter rushing up to the sitting deer and appear to bite it, before retreating slightly and barking repeatedly in an aggressive manner.

Eyewitnesses, who rushed to the scene last October, described the dog, named Alfie, as “relentless” as it then attacked and bit the deer from behind.

He then drags the deer backwards, lunging and continuously running around in an attempt to get at her.

The cycle-cam footage shows the deer managing to get up, but the animal limps off slowly despite suffering a broken leg after being hit by a car while being chased.

She was found collapsed in ferns and had to put down by a gamekeeper due to significant injuries.

One passer-by obtained details from the dog’s owner and flagged down a passing police car.

Hiribarne, who had rushed to catch up with his dog and get him back under control, also went to the Royal Parks office to inform them.

In a statement to police, Hiribarne said he often entered London’s largest of eight royal parks to walk Alfie on a lead until they found a suitable open space away from the road and deer.

He said that the dog had been responding well to “off-leash” commands before the incident on October 1.

Hiribarne recalled: “All of a sudden, I and Alfie came across a lone small deer sitting hidden in the long grass in an open area about 150 metres away from the road and both the deer and Alfie were startled by each other.

“The deer sprang up and started to run and Alfie got spooked and ran after the deer. I called Alfie back repeatedly and used my dog whistle too but Alfie was too distracted by the deer and continued to chase it and did not respond.

“I ran after them and by the time I caught up with them, I saw the injured deer by the roadside and some members of the public standing surrounding the deer, keeping Alfie away from it. (He) was hyperexcited, barking and trying to lunge at it.

“I was genuinely shocked and sorry for what had happened and since then I have refrained completely from letting Alfie off leash in any park.

“I have also taken a special dog trainer specialised in gun dogs to control more accurately any of his hunting instincts. He has made great progress.”

Hiribarne, 44, of Kingston, pleaded guilty to causing or permitting an animal they were in charge of to injure another animal in a Royal Park at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Friday, January 15. He was fined a total of £602.

The offence was contrary to regulation 4 (21) of the Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997 and section 2 of the Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act 1926.

Sergeant Pete Sturgess, from the Met's Royal Parks Command, said: “This incident highlights that even the most careful of dog owners may not see a deer until it is too late.

“Your dog may never have chased the deer before, but once is too many, and this deer paid with her life.

“If you do not know how your dog will react around the deer, or you know they will chase them, then please respect the wildlife by keeping them under control on a lead, or choose an outside space other than Richmond or Bushy Parks to walk off lead.”

Figures collated for the first time on so-called “dog versus deer” incidents by the Royal Parks charity shows the problem has significantly increased since Covid-19 lockdowns with more owners using Bushy and Richmond.

Richmond Park manager Simon Richards said: “Sadly, this was the fourth deer that died over the last year as a result of dog chases in Bushy and Richmond Parks.

“We’ve had 58 incidents of dogs chasing deer reported to us since March 2020, and it’s completely unacceptable. It’s imperative that owners ensure their dogs are under control at all times.

“It’s illegal for a dog to chase deer in Richmond and Bushy Parks, and owners may face prosecution if caught. If you witness a dog chasing a deer, please phone the on-call police officers for Richmond and Bushy Parks via 07920 586546.”

Last December, David Reay, 69, from Kingston, also pleaded guilty to allowing his dog to attack and kill a fallow deer in Richmond Park last September.

He was fined £135 by Wimbledon magistrates and ordered to pay £350 compensation to Richmond Park as well as £34 victim surcharge costs and £85 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

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