Dogs seized after retired vet mauled to death

A retired vet was found dead in his Warwickshire garden after reportedly being bitten by seven dogs, one of which was his own Russian Terrier.

Police are investigating the death of Antony Harrington, aged 77, after he was discovered in the garden of his home in Little Packington.

He was found bitten by seven dogs, including several large Bernese mountain dogs, reports the Mirror. It has been said that the widower suffered a suspected cardiac arrest and was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

A Warwickshire Police investigation is trying to establish whether the bites were the cause of death or if he was dead when he was bitten in November last year. As a retired vet, he ‘always loved animals’, said a friend who spoke to The Sun.

“Tony always loved animals and had a huge black terrier of his own,” the friend said. “The dogs, which police seized, included his own pet and six which were owned by a friend living with Tony at the time.

“What happened is horrific — no one knows why the dogs attacked him. He was found in the garden and bits of his clothes had been scattered around the grass. His family are distraught and hope the investigation can help them understand what happened.”

Warwickshire Police said a 75-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of owning a dog dangerously out of control before being bailed. A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said: “Enquiries are ongoing and it is yet to be determined whether the bites caused the death, or the man had died prior to being bitten.”

The dad-of-three ran a veterinary surgery in Birmingham with late wife Louise from 1980 until they both retired. Mr Harrington was also a steam locomotive fan and helped to restore a 1914 engine.

His funeral was held in Coleshill in North Warwickshire last month.