Call for action after dog walker mauled to death

A coroner has expressed concern over "the lack of regulation to control dogs" after a professional dog walker was mauled to death in a park in Surrey.

Natasha Johnston, 28, from Croydon, had been walking eight dogs in Gravelly Hill, Caterham, when she was fatally attacked on 12 January 2023.

Senior Surrey coroner Richard Travers said the cause of death was shock and haemorrhage to her left jugular, and multiple dog bites to her neck, arm and torso from a “vicious dog attack”.

Mr Travers said the lack of regulation to control dogs was "a matter of concern" on a national level and he would be addressing a prevention of future deaths report to the home secretary.

Two of Ms Johnston's friends were in attendance at the inquest in Woking on Monday. Mr Travers offered them all condolences on "her truly tragic death”.

In his conclusion, Mr Travers said Ms Johnston was initially in control of the group of eight dogs she was walking but “it was readily apparent that control was lost with a tragic result".

"Bearing in mind the number and size of dogs and inability to control dogs, the lack of regulation to control dogs is a matter of concern," he said, adding that this appeared to be "a national problem".

Ms Johnston's brother, Jordan Johnston, said in a statement to the inquest: “She was familiar with dogs and walked the same group of dogs for a long period at this location and elsewhere and never reported problems at any time.”

The coroner praised the "great bravery" of Caterham resident Ben Kershaw who tried to help Ms Johnston, “despite seeing two dogs which were aggressive with blood on their snouts".

Mr Kershaw told the inquest that he saw two or three dogs standing over Ms Johnston.

Dog walker Andrew Coutts said Ms Johnston had called the dogs, which obeyed when she turned around after spotting him and his dog, and she had done this on previous occasions.

Another dog walker, Sam Ogden said she felt a "searing pain" in her left buttock after a dog which looked like a Staffordshire bull terrier had approached her dog and started to growl. She later discovered she had been bitten.

The inquest heard that Surrey County Council recommended people walked a maximum of six dogs, but this was not mandatory.

Tandridge District Council said it was looking at measures including updating its existing licences for dog walkers and improving signage by including a limit on the number of dogs that could be walked by professional walkers.

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