Blind Hammer says Andy Carroll should reject a strategy of using “Killer Dogs” for personal security.
There is no doubt that being the subject of an attempted armed attack is an event that would shake and traumatise most of us. The Sun reported last week that armed men on motorbikes attempted to intercept West Ham’s Andy Carroll in Chigwell, on his way home from training at the Rush Green complex. Carroll described how one of the bikers threatened him with a gun through his Car window. The Sun then reported that Carroll was able to escape these bikers after a high speed pursuit involving other cars in crashes.
The motive for the threat and attempted waylaying of Carroll is not clear, though the Sun reported that Carroll was driving his “£100,000 Mercedes Benz” which I suppose is a possible robbery motive. Kidnapping and bodily harm are even more sinister possibilities. The Mail followed up this story with a report that Carroll has been anxious about threats from Criminal gangs for several months.
An uncharitable view of this incident, which I have heard expressed, is to cynically observe that this is another example of Carroll being involved in another news escapade, alongside difficult news reports of his inappropriate drinking whilst supposedly trying to establish his fitness to return to West Ham as a desperately needed striking option. The argument goes that people who have lurid and disordered life styles can attract the wrong kind of attention. Paul Gascoigne is often cited as perhaps an example of alcohol providing a chaotic descent into mire from which only footballing ineffectiveness can emerge.
There does seem something strange going on. Certainly most of us are not participating in life styles which attract the attention of criminal gangs. Despite this I genuinely felt that this uncharitable cynicism was unfair to Carroll and my instincts were to provide support for what must have been a horrendous ordeal.
My unequivocal support for Carroll has now started to undergo severe strain after news emerged in The Mail of the security measures Carroll is to deploy in response to these threats.
Carroll is to employ a personal bodyguard, which is entirely supportable and understandable. What is more controversial is the report The Mail made in relation to Carroll having so called “Killer Dogs” trained to provide protection.
The Mail reported that Carroll ’bought two £15,000 “fearsome” mastiff dogs over fears he was being targeted by criminal gang months before his attempted carjacking. As he feared for this own and his family’s safety , he ordered two seven and a half stone Cane Corsos mastiff guard dogs are apparently are completing their training and will be delivered soon.
The Mail also reported that the company producing the Guard Dogs described them as “perfectly safe”. Now I am a dog lover. Many of you know I have a lovable, amazing, clever and gentle Guide Dog called Nyle. However the fact I am the owner of this wonderful kind and gentle dog does not make me unaware of the dangers in other dog breeds. I have the advantage of a family with a huge collected knowledge of dogs. My Sister has owned and run a large Kennels for a variety of dog for over 30 years. She has, along with her Husband, bred dogs for a similar time. Her Husband is an acknowledge dog expert and has judged at high profile dog competitions in the UK and abroad.
They will both tell you, as will many other Kennel Owners, that there is no such thing as a “safe” Guard Dog. Dogs which are bread and trained for attack can never be safe dogs. There are loads of example they can recite of dogs which can behave perfectly acceptably for years, then completely unpredictably attack even a stranger or even their own master. When discussing this article with my sister she reminded me of a Kennel User who had both his arm and leg broken after his guard Dog attacked him. This came out of the blue after years of no problems, and almost as disturbingly the dog appeared perfectly normal and calm after the attack. The dog was euthanized but the owner had to spend 3 months in hospital recovering from his injuries.
The clue is in the description “Killer Dogs”. Legislation has been enacted in this country to try and curb the actions of irresponsible owner encouraging dangerous dogs. The maximum penalty for dangerous dog ownership leading to an attack has now been increased to a potential 14 years imprisonment. Specifically the Cane Corsos breed Carroll is recruiting for his family’s protection have been involved with vicious attacks, including the killing of Craig Sytsma, 46, in Michigan in 2014.
Andy Carroll is suffering a disturbed existence at the moment. By recruiting dangerous dogs into his family at this time is in my view an appalling lack of judgement which could come back to haunt him.
Dogs are clever but they are not human, They obey orders most of the time, but sometimes they do not and, as dogs, sometimes have poor understanding and discretion in relation to the safety of themselves and others. With gentle breeds this is manageable. With dangerous dogs it is potentially disastrous. Andy Carroll is embarking on a course which could bring even more disastrous drama into the lives of either his family or other families associating with these dogs.
As a West Ham football supporter I love it when Andy Carroll plays for us. He offers an extent of skill of physicality which can barely be matched across the globe. If he had retained fitness the combination of the extraordinary talents of Payet and Carroll could unlock any football defence on the planet.
It grieves me now with almost a physical pain to realise that perhaps it is in Carroll’s best interest that he now move on to find a more sober, less dramatic life style away from the cauldron that appears to be developing for him in Essex. Whether any other club could pay his wages is a moot point but for all concerned, including Carroll’s family, a fresh start is probably the best course. Carroll desperately requires an environment without drama, where he can get his head down to try and achieve some of his unfulfilled potential in the remaining years of his career. It is with this strategy, rather than the inviting of dangerous dogs into his home, that I feel Carroll should now concentrate.
COYI
David Griffith