A dog owner from Bedfordshire has launched a petition for compulsory third-party pet insurance following the death of her dog, Murphy, who was fatally attacked by another dog whose owner was uninsured.
Joanne Newbury, from Stagsden, has been left grieving and facing £3,500 in veterinary bills after the incident, which took place while walking Murphy, her 10-year-old cockapoo. The dog, who Joanne had raised since he was a puppy, was attacked by a much larger dog. Despite the other owner admitting responsibility and providing a statement to police, they have not contributed to Murphy’s medical costs.
Murphy sustained four broken ribs, internal bleeding, and severe crush injuries. The muscle damage to his back was so extensive that his lungs were visible. He underwent emergency surgery, but his heart stopped and he died before his tenth birthday.
Joanne said, “When you get pet insurance, you think it’s for if your dog gets ill. You don’t think about it in this context. It has been absolutely horrific – having to deal with all this as well as grieving and coming to terms with the trauma.”
The attack occurred on a quiet country lane while Murphy was on a lead. Joanne had chosen to avoid a nearby field after seeing dogs off-lead, but one of them charged towards Murphy and launched the attack. She said that Murphy had “no chance”.
Earlier in the year, Joanne and Murphy had completed a 125-mile charity walk, raising £1,500 for Cancer Research UK. The pair had become well-known both locally and on social media.
“Everyone felt like they knew him,” she said. “I lost my other dog just 14 months earlier, and now this. It has compounded the heartbreak. It’s affected me massively and I have had to miss work.”
Joanne now faces the prospect of pursuing the other dog owner through the small claims court to recover the vet costs, which she has already put on a credit card. “Financially, I think I shouldn’t be in this situation when I was responsible and had insurance,” she said. “They owned up, went to the police, did what they had to do, but it’s all on me to chase everything. It’s exhausting, especially while grieving.”
In response, she has launched a petition for the introduction of ‘Murphy’s Law’ – a legal requirement for all dog owners to take out third-party insurance to cover costs if their dog causes injury or death. She says this would prevent victims from being left with both emotional trauma and financial strain.
“Murphy was everything to me. No one should have to go through this. I want to make sure this never happens to another family,” Joanne said.
