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DOG COLLARED
Victoria Park dog attack: My ‘friendly’ American Bully Coco was seized after attacking cop horse – it wasn’t her fault
A DOG owner whose American Bully savaged two police horses in a park has revealed his "friendly" pup has now been seized by cops.
Hakan Niyazi's dog bit the animals' legs and bodies during the five-minute attack while two officers screamed for her to be put on a lead.
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And cops even then begged witnesses to "be brave" and intervene because the animal's owner Hakan allegedly stood by watching.
Today, he defended his "friendly" dog and tried to blame the horses for the assault, which took place just after midday at Victoria Park in Hackney, East London.
Hakan, who is in his mid 20s and goes to college twice a week, told The Sun: "It might look like I wasn’t doing much but I was trying my hardest. I tried to grab her.
"She was intimidated by the horse. She felt threatened.
"I thought the horse was going to kick me. If it kicks me I’m dead. If it killed me then people would be feeling sorry for me."
He even criticised the have-a-go hero passer-by who stepped in to help, using a long stick to keep the dog at bay.
"The guy was rude," Hakan, who has had Coco for around a year, said.
"I was so angry at the time. He said I didn’t do nothing. I tried.
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"I reciprocate energy. If you’re rude to me I will be rude back to you.
"He was angry. He was swearing, being rude. I was trying my hardest."
Despite its behaviour, Hakan described the dog as "so friendly" and claimed he couldn't understand what had happened because Coco has been around horses before.
Do you know the witness involved or did you see what happened? Call 0207 860 1129 or email [email protected]
He added: "I’ve been stressing about it all night. She’s my pride and joy. That’s the only thing that keeps me sane. My little girl.
"She’s so friendly. With any human she’s so good. I don’t know why it happened.
"I want it to go to court. I want to have my say.
"That stuff never happened before. Next time I know not to take my dog off a lead."
'GET IT NOW'
Graphic images shared by the police show one of the horses, named Urbane, from Bow, suffered leg and torso injuries.
The horse - which was pictured with Queen Camilla in 2019 on an official Royal visit - can be seen badly injured in the shocking photos.
Both are said to be traumatised after the yapping canine tried to sink its teeth into their legs and bodies.
The cops yelled “get it now”, “get the dog” and “get on with it” as they desperately tried to get the hound under control.
After the attack, one officer managed to dismount and shouted at Hakan to get the dog on a lead immediately.
But witnesses accused Hakan of only taking a leisurely stroll over to the animal.
Police then removed the dog from the scene.
A witness, 37, was walking her own pup when she saw the other canine eyeing up the horses.
She said it seemed far too interested and she could tell it was “looking for a fight”.
The marketing worker told The Sun: “It was shocking and scary. You could tell it was bad.
“I spotted the dog and the body language was way too interested in the horses and was going over to antagonise them.
“The officers were trying to get the owner to get the dog under control and secured.
It was shocking and scary.
Witness
“Eventually there’s one brave witness who grabbed the dog but then the owner takes his time to go over and put the dog on the lead.
“I was apologetic that I couldn’t do anything but I was keeping my own dog on the lead and under control.”
She said the rider of the main horse that got attacked took himself off afterwards and seemed like he “needed some space”.
The woman accused some owners of American Bully breeds of getting them “for status” and said owners of dogs that can be reactive should ensure they are always on a lead.
A neighbour described Coco as "really scary" and Hakan as a "knuckle head".
He added: "The dog is quite aggressive and quite strong.
"The dog is always off the lead. I’m scared of this dog.
"He usually has the dogs with others in the park wrestling with each other."
A spokesperson for The Met said: "PH Urbane from Bow was attacked by a dog off the lead in Victoria Park yesterday.
"We can’t stress enough how important it is to keep dogs on a lead if you can’t recall them or get them under control.
"Huge thanks to members of public who tried to help Urbane.
"He has been to the vets and is having some well-earned recuperation.
"He will hopefully be back on duty as soon as he has fully recovered but not before."
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The force confirmed the horse required stitches and the dog remains in police kennels.
No arrests have been made.
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