Retired vet mauled to death in his own garden in attack ‘by seven dogs’
Seven dogs have been seized by police after a retired vet was mauled to death in his own garden.
The pack believed to have attacked Antony Harrington, 77, included his pet terrier, as well as six other dogs which belonged to a friend living with him at the time.
‘What happened is horrific — no one knows why the dogs attacked him.’ a source told The Sun.
‘He was found in the garden and bits of his clothes had been scattered around the grass.
‘His family are distraught and hope the investigation can help them understand what happened.’
The dogs involved are reported to have included several large Bernese Mountain Dogs and Mr Harrington’s own large, black Russian terrier.
Paramedics were called and then police, but dad-of-three Mr Harrington was pronounced dead at the scene.
A woman, 75, has been arrested on suspicion of owning a dog dangerously out of control and bailed.
Warwickshire Police said: ‘At 6.04pm on November 25 2023, paramedics contacted police to inform them of a man in cardiac arrest at a house in Packington Lane, Meriden.
‘The man in his 70s was declared dead at the scene. He had suffered bite injuries, which were found to be the cause of death.
‘Seven dogs were seized at the scene and a 75-year-old woman from the Coleshill area was arrested on suspicion of owning a dog dangerously out of control.
‘She has since been bailed while enquiries continue.’
Mr Harrington, known as Tony, ran his own veterinary surgery in Birmingham from 1980 with his late wife Louise.
He was a steam locomotive fan and helped restore an engine from 1914.
A death notice in the local paper described him as a ‘beloved husband’ and ‘dear father’ who died suddenly, with a request that any donations in lieu of flowers to be given to Cancer Research UK or the University of Glasgow Trust (to be used in support of the Glasgow Vet School).
His funeral was held in Coleshill last month followed by a private cremation.
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