The death of a woman from South Croydon, killed by the dogs she was walking at a beauty spot near Caterham in January last year, could lead to greater restrictions on the number of animals any individual is allowed to walk at one time.
Police cordon: Natasha Johnston, 28, from South Croydon, was killed while walking eight dogs at a beauthy spot near Caterham
Natasha Johnston, 28, from South Croydon who worked as a professional dog-walker, had been walking eight dogs at Gravelly Hill when she was fatally attacked in January 2023.
At the inquest which concluded yesterday, Surrey senior coroner Richard Travers said the cause of death was shock and haemorrhage to her left jugular, and multiple dog bites to her neck, arm and torso from a “vicious dog attack”.
Travers said the lack of regulation to control dogs was “a matter of concern” on a national level and he would be addressing a prevention of future deaths report to the Home Secretary.
Last year Tandridge Council, the local authority where the attack occurred, held an emergency meeting of its community services committee to discuss the implications of the tragic dogs attack, and said that it would review its bye-law restrictions.
Tandridge said that it was considering reducing the limit on the number of dogs anyone walking pets may supervise, from six. Nearly two years on from Johnston’s death, Tandridge has yet to change its local rules.
In his conclusion yesterday, Travers said Johnston was initially in control of the group of eight dogs she was walking but “it was readily apparent that control was lost with a tragic result”.
The group of dogs included Johnston’s own cockapoo and XL bully. Because of other incidents, XL bullies have since been placed on the dangerous dogs list. The six dogs being walked by Johnston that belonged to others have been returned to their owners.
Coroner Travers said: “Bearing in mind the number and size of dogs and inability to control dogs, the lack of regulation to control dogs is a matter of concern.” This appeared to be “a national problem”, he said.
Johnston’s brother, Jordan Johnston, said in a statement to the inquest: “She was familiar with dogs and walked the same group of dogs for a long period at this location and elsewhere and never reported problems at any time.”
The coroner praised the “great bravery” of Caterham resident Ben Kershaw who tried to help Johnston, “despite seeing two dogs which were aggressive with blood on their snouts”.
The inquest heard that Surrey County Council recommended people walked a maximum of six dogs, but this was not mandatory.
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