Carolyn with her guide dog Ally (Picture: Archant)

A blind woman is losing her guide dog Ally after she was attacked so many times that she was no longer able to work.

Carolyn Allum said she was ‘beside herself with grief’ after losing her best friend, who had become jumpy and traumatised by six separate attacks.

The six-year-old black Labrador, who cost £57,000 to train, was mauled by other dogs, leaving her with a ripped ear and puncture wounds to her mouth on one occasion.

Boris Johnson planning 'enforcement blitzkrieg' to patrol pubs for rule-breakersShe is usually very calm and able to help her owner with any sudden stresses while working, but since the attacks she has become more on edge.




Carolyn, of Claydon in Suffolk, was petrified during the latest incident in Ipswich town centre when another dog barked aggressively at them.

Ally retaliated and barked back after the string of previous attacks on her.

Ally has had to retire (Picture: Archant)

‘Dogs work in fight or flight mode, and what’s happening now is that Ally is fighting rather than running away,’ Carolyn said.

‘I can’t let that happen because it could risk both my safety and hers.’

She has decided it’s best for both of them if Ally retires, despite how difficult the decision is.

Boris to hold emergency Cobra meeting as UK braces for new lockdown’Ally is a cracking guide dog and it’s truly heartbreaking to see her retiring so early,’ she said.

‘I’m beside myself with grief at losing her – she’s my best friend.’

Carolyn has already found a new home for Ally, who took about nine months to be fully trained.

She’s on the priority list to receive a new guide dog but it could still take up to a year so she may have to rely on a cane until then.

‘Ally is my lifeline and I feel like my independence is being torn away from me,’ she said.

‘I travel a lot so it will have a huge impact,’ stressed Carolyn, who’s in her 40s.

‘I want to speak out so dog owners realise what an impact badly-behaved dogs can have on others.’

It will leave Carolyn without without a guide dog (Picture: Archant)

Helen Sismore, of East Anglia Guide Dogs, is working alongside other agencies, including Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore, to combat guide dog attacks.

Ms Sismore said: ‘This is an intolerable situation for people who are blind or partially sighted.

‘We ask the public to ensure their dogs are properly socialised with other dogs and are under control at all times whether they are on or off lead.’

Mr Passmore said: ‘First of all I think these are utterly sickening attacks on this guide dog.

‘I know most dog owners are quite respectful, but there are a minority who are selfish.

‘The perpetrators need catching.’

Suffolk Police are appealing for witnesses to the latest attack on Ally, which happened on Ipswich Cornhill on January 5.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 2014 states it is a criminal offence for a dog to attack a working guide dog.



It was amended in May 2014 to go further and state the dog does not have to cause harm and it will still be classed as an attack if a dog lunges or growls aggressively, because the act is outlined as being against the person.

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