Two police horses attacked by dog during patrol in London

Two police horses named Yvonne and Snaffles have been attacked by a dog while out on patrol.

The horses were being ridden by officers Sergeant Leon Astley and PC Grace Miller-McCormack on Shepherd’s Bush Green on Monday when the dog tried to bite them.

Despite the owner trying to get the dog under control, it continued to chase the horses and tried to gnaw at their legs.

Members of the public stepped in to help detain the dog.

The horses suffered minor injuries and are recovering at their stables.

Police are now appealing for help identifying the dog and its owner.

Sergeant Astley, from the Met Police’s Mounted Branch, said: ‘What should have been a routine patrol turned out to be unexpectedly eventful, where our hardworking police horses were sadly injured in the course of their duty.

‘Fortunately Yvonne and Snaffles are recovering well and being looked after in their stables.

‘We know horses are not a common sight in the capital but we urge all owners to keep their dogs under control to prevent this happening again.’

In July three escaped army horses broke free from their regiment and bolted through the streets of London.

The lead horse in a group of six was spooked by a bus during a routine exercise of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment on Seville Street, near Hyde Park Barracks, on Monday morning.

One of the horses received ‘minor injuries’ and no soldiers were hurt.

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