ONE of Jersey’s best-known sportsmen has described the terrifying moments when he was savaged by a dog bred to guard sheep from bears and wolves.
Tony Carlyon (38) says he thought he was going to be killed during the frenzied attack. The Island cricket star and former Muratti goalkeeper has been left with bite marks and bruising all over his body. Doctors said that they had never seen such deep puncture marks from a canine attack.
The animal which mauled Mr Carlyon has been put down. ‘It did not even bark,’ he said. ‘It just banged me onto the floor and started biting me on the back of my neck, on my arm and my backside. If it had locked its jaws on my throat or gone for my face, I am sure I would have died or lost an eye.
It is thought that the dog was an Anatolian Sheepdog, a breed which can weigh up to 60 kilos. The dogs were bred in Asia to guard sheep against wolves, bears and jackals, but are often used a guard dogs in the west. The attack happened on 11 July when Mr Carlyon, who is a Jersey Telecom engineer, was going to his first appointment of the day.
He went to a farmhouse on the outskirts of St Helier to ask for directions and walked around into a courtyard to look for someone to ask. The next thing he knew, he had been knocked to the floor. Mr Carlyon said that he fell face first, badly cutting his knees, and managed to roll into a ball, with his arms protecting his face.He estimates that the attack lasted around 30 seconds before the owner appeared and called the dog off.
23 Article Comments
Sorry but this man should not have been wandering into places uninvited and I believe the dog was doing exactly what it is taught to do. What if Mr Carlyon had been a burglar, or paedophile the dog probably would have been hailed a hero for protecting his territory and his family. It is not just a dog and/or dog owner’s fault that a dog attacks.
Obviously the dog was guarding the premises, just another example of the poor animal getting blamed for doing what it was supposed to. There are no killer dogs just idiot breeders/owners.
Being uninvited is one thing, but being attacked before evening reaching the front door is another. Lets hope the next time you have to ask a stranger for help they don’t punch face you for invading their personal space!
Obviously the dog was guarding the premises, on what basis? Were there signs to suggest this? Come to think of it, yup i’m sure now. Dogs arn’t just around for guarding things. The word pet ever come to mind!
Both of you are so set that dog is the innocent party here, neither of you have thought that a man who was simply looking for correct address has now be scarred for life mentally and physically from this.
Lets hope your never put in the same situation!!
Dogs like these should be locked up in a safe place,what if the person in question had broke down or was in need of medical help and walked into this property ?
I did a search on the web for this dog and clearly states they are territorial dogs. So i’m sure the owner knows what would happen if anyone walked into his property.
Where are the signs saying beware of the dog ?
Were there any ?
Hope Mr Carlyon gets over this savage attack soon.
what if this was a child?
Miss Cornick & Mogit:
While i understand that it was not the dogs fault but the owners i can not believe your comments.
What if this was a child that stumbled across the yard or even an eldely person?
Tradesmen, Posties, Deliveries? Do these people not get visitors? Was there a gate? Did it not warn of a possible protective dog?
Sorry but this is the responsability of the owners and they are the reason why the dog was put down.
Dog owners should be more responsable!
If i was the person attacked by the dog i would be now asking the owners to cough up for damages.
Unfortunately no one will ever be able to properly tell if or when a dog will attack. It is a risk we all take and in fact I have personally witnessed more viciousness from nasty yappy dogs walking off the lead round Queens Valley than I have from any big bouncy funny Labradors who look scarier!
Yes there should have been a sign, we don’t know if there was or not. Would anyone really have paid utmost attention to a sign anyway?
And, Chris Pace, let’s hope I’m not in the same situation, but if I ever am, let it be NOT because of some of my own ignorance and stupidity also.
A dog is an animal which should be respected whatever its size/breed and please realise, even ducks and geese get territorial and vicious, it is an animal trait!!
And what a sensible comment, which proves the nature of todays society:
“If i was the person attacked by the dog i would be now asking the owners to cough up for damages.”
SAYS it all Mark.
Miss Cornick’s remarks are very typical of certain people over here with an attitude problem.
She remarks that the dog was doing what it was supposed to do, “what” tear a person to bits?
That has to be the most ignorant remark to come out with.
The dog because of its potentially dangerous abillities should have been behind a gate or something and seeing its presence would have the desired affect on most would be intruders.
I’m sure if Miss Cornick was in this man’s shoes
she wouldn’t be so blasé about the attack.
Let’s hope she never has the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time like this poor chap.
Dogs will always protect their owners but that doesn’t mean they will always attack in a vicious way. When I was a kid, we had a pet labrador who charged at strangers but mainly to lick them to death as she was super friendly. However, there were times where she would be out back and would bark at srangers to scare them off but that is all she did, bark. It is in a dog’s nature to protect but they shouldn’t be blamed for that. I just think that owners, including myself, should take more time and effort to train dogs properly so when dogs do protect their owners, they only take it as far as it needs to be taken and therefore, doesn’t hurt anyone. Obviously during the day, the liekly hood is that a stranger will bring no harm, therefore, dogs need to be trained to only protect at night but that is easier said than done!
Miss Cornick:
So you are saying that the gentleman involved is not to seek damages? I can only suggest that next time you are involved in a accident or incident that is not your fault you do not claim off your insurance as this is today’s society.
The issue here is that the owner/s were responsible for the dog and failed.
Miss Cornick’s remarks are stultifyingly ignorant. If the dog had attacked a burgler or a paedophile it would have been a hero? It didn’t attack either. Does Miss Cornick own dogs that are able to decern between burglers, paedophiles and average, honest, law abing citizens? If so, perhaps she could offer their much needed services to the States of Jersey Police Force?
What was this dog’s purpose? A show dog/a pet/a deterrent or what? An anatolian, like any sheepdog, needs masses of exercise and hard rules to live by! The owners should be ashamed of themselves!
and yet again the dog is to blame ! hello the dog was only protecting it territory. It is the responsability of not just the owner to sign post and warn people that there is a dog on the premises but also the person entering to be aware of what is around them and to look further then the end of their nose as well ! I think it is very sad that this has happened and the dog has been put to sleep. The suggestion that a child should walk into a yard unsurpervised also enrages me please could someone tell me where the child’s parents are and if older to be out with out parents then what are they up to fishing around the back of someone’s property I ask myself ? All I can say is very sorry that this person got hurt but equally poor dog had to be put to sleep and I bet it didn’t like that ? would you ?
Having just read the comments from Miss Cornick and mogit, I am in no doubt that their views are both ignorant and small minded, and in the minority! I’m not sure injuries of that nature would have been caused had the gentleman been breaking the law and tracked down by police dogs, who are trained and under control at all times.
I would like to wish Mr Carlyon a speedy recovery
Michael - that’s me in the minority !!!
with people like you the human race let me out !!!
It was a shame that this happened but no one will know for sure exactly what happened and what training the dog had had or whether there were signs up warning callers to the property. If the dog was known to attack or had shown aggression in the past then it should have been restrained and not allowed to roam freely.
I am a dog owner and I am on my own and very glad to have my loyal dog warn me whenever anyone approaches the house. He sounds and looks like he means business and would certainly frighten anyone who doesn’t know him, but postmen and delivery drivers all love him.
The only time he has been territorial is when a stranger has taunted him or shouted at me. He was being protective and of that I am grateful.I have trained him well under expert guidance and he obeys me at all times. Just as police dogs do their handlers.
Owners are responsible for their dogs and if they own a breed that has a particular function, ie guard dog then they should seek expert advice on training them. It’s a shame a dog had to be put down and someone had to suffer the attack. But please don’t condemm all dogs and their owners.
Miss Cornick:
Foolish comments… You are definitely in the minority here. Why would anyone need a dog with these character traits… Where are we living the bronx? People love to state that Jersey is safer than the UK so what is the requirement for this type of dog here? If it shows territorial or aggressive behaviour - why wasn’t it muzzled or tied up? Owners should be fined. This man was making an innocent enquiry - it could have been a child!
Joanne, you don’t need to live in the Bronx to have certain breeds of dog - this is very small minded of you.
Thanks Mitch that’s pretty much exactly what my point is.
Neither side of the argument will ever win these discussions.
My ending statement is I hope the guy gets better and now the dog’s been destroyed let’s hope that’s enough settlement for him rather than to go ahead with damages and court cases etc.
Every dog shows territorial behaviour to varying degrees. This dog may bever have given any sign before being put in this particular situation. It would be cruel to muzzle them all.
Miss Cornick and Mogit -
There was no barking, no warning note. A well-trained dog would have barked a warning, not gone straight in for the kill. Can you not imagine the terror and pain of the victim ? He will never forget it. I am so glad the dog will never live to do this again.
What action is to be taken against the owners ? Yes, sue them. Such a dog is not needed or welcome in Jersey.
My final comment is you’re all BARKING !
And I still say poor dog gets the blame as do all dog owners and I can assure you we are not all tarred with the same brush. Many of us are very responsible dog owners who also, whilst on the subject of dogs, pick up their mess, unlike some lovely adults I saw on the beach today BURYING THEIR DAUGHTER’S DIRTY NAPPY IN THE SAND I mean, how disgusting is that? And people have the nerve to moan about dog mess. I would rather see a lump of dog mess ON TOP of the sand then find, when digging in the sand to make a sand castle with my children, a dirty poo filled nappy ! And there endeth my moan for the day ! and a happy night to all you Barking individuals and yes that does inc me !!!!!!
I would say it was obvious which ones of you are dog owners yourselves, would you not show some remorse for the actions of your dog if it had done this to someone or would it have to be to someone close to you before you took any notice? It also begs the question, has this dog done this before, I feel sure you would find that it had.
most of the negative comments on here are by people who have very little experance of dogs, if there were warning signs why was he trespassing on private property, why does the owner get the blame. Every time there is a dog attack in the news we always get issues from people who screech, jump out of the way or cross the road just because our dog is a staffordshire bull terrier,yet the kennel club only recomends two breeds of dog which are suitable to have around children one of which is a staffordshire bull terrier. I do feel sorry for Tony being attacked by the dog but people should think before entering private property and check for signs, I expect that he had to open a gate to enter the property, a gate which kept the dog in a secure area!