Training helps residents to tame estate’s dangerous dogs

 
‘They gave me a few tips to calm Blaze, such as covering his eyes if he starts barking’ Halil Ankay pictured with Blaze and, far left, Jenk Akay with Bobby Picture: Nigel Howard
NIGEL HOWARD

An estate blighted by dog fighting and teenagers parading their “status” animals has seen many of the youths transformed into model owners.

Residents complained they were often too frightened to leave their homes — and the communal grassy areas were messy no-go zones. In some cases the dogs were so neglected they had to be put down.

As tensions increased between young owners and residents, people living on the Sandlings Estate in Haringey devised an “action plan” and applied for government funding to clean up the area.

The estate was granted more than £4,200 of Home Office money through the Community Development Foundation. The grant was spent on three roadshow-style events that encouraged young owners to come forward, get their animals microchipped and learn how to care for and discipline them.

The owners were promised that they would not be reprimanded or have their animals seized. None were thought to be banned breeds.

Margaret Clarke, chairwoman of the tenants and residents association, said: “Now, a lot of the dogs are under control and they are not running around so much. The owners are picking up after them and it’s as though they’ve really learned a lesson.”

Alison Seabrooke, chief executive of the Community Development Foundation, said the area had seen a reduction in complaints about anti-social behaviour involving dogs, adding: “This success speaks for itself.”

Now, other London estates are being invited to see if they are eligible for similar funding through a £30 million Community First pot.

Halil Ankay, a 17-year-old student who lives on the Sandlings Estate, said his two-year-old Akita, Blaze, had frightened residents with its barking but is now “calm”. He said: “Blaze is nervous around humans because he was kicked when he was a puppy. He is very loving but people got the impression he was vicious.”

Halil took Blaze to the roadshow, where owners were also given free equipment such as harnesses, collars and leads.

He said: “They gave me a few tips to calm him down, such as covering his eyes if he starts barking and reassuring other people he is no threat to them.They recommended Blaze should also wear a muzzle for other people’s safety and I had him microchipped.

“It’s a good atmosphere on the estate now.”

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