Tom Parker Bowles, the son of Queen Camilla and stepson of King Charles, has shared the terrifying details of a dog attack that left his beloved Jack Russell, Maud, severely injured.
A Walk That Turned into a Nightmare
The food writer, who is 50, described how 'all hell broke loose' during a walk in Kensington, west London, earlier this month. The incident began when a large 10-stone mastiff, being walked by a dog walker, spotted his tiny Jack Russell. The powerful dog broke free and launched itself at Maud.
Tom recounted the moment of the attack, saying the mastiff immediately had its 'jaws locked deep into my tiny, less-than-one-stone terrier'. He recalled the sound of Maud shrieking with terror, followed by a heartrending cry of pain, after which his own memory of the event becomes hazy.
A Father's Instinct Takes Over
Despite the traumatic scene, Tom said that 'pure instinct took over'. Fearing the mastiff would lift and shake Maud like a rag or crush her, he knew he had to act. 'I launched myself on to the dog,' he explained, 'desperately trying to undo his jaws, which were locked, vice-like, on her soft white belly.'
As chaos ensued, a crowd gathered, and one man reportedly struck the mastiff with his walking stick. After what felt like an eternity but was in reality around 30 seconds, the mastiff finally loosened its grip, allowing Tom to pull Maud to safety.
The Aftermath and a Call for Responsibility
The small dog suffered significant injuries and has since undergone two operations. Tom revealed that while she is on the mend, there is a 'very real prospect of further surgery', and she may bear psychological scars from the ordeal.
Although he alerted the police, Tom has stated he does not want the mastiff destroyed nor does he wish to press charges. Instead, his focus is on prevention. He has called for large, powerful dogs to be muzzled in public, emphasising that he would rather see responsibility placed on the owner than on knee-jerk breed bans.
He also highlighted the financial aspect of the emergency care, noting he was fortunate that Maud is covered by Petplan insurance, which he described as having been incredibly efficient.
The frightening experience has left him considering the potential consequences if a similar attack were to happen to a small child, a tragic reality that has occurred in the UK in recent years.
