Pair of police horses on patrol attacked by dog in west London

Two police horses have been attacked and injured by a dog while they were out on patrol in west London.

Police horses Snaffles and Yvonne, with mounted officers Leon Astley and Grace Miller-McCormack, were in Shepherd’s Bush Green at about 11:30 BST on Monday when it happened.

The dog chased the horses and repeatedly made attempts to bite their legs while the owner struggled to get their pet back under control, the officers said. Members of the public eventually stopped the dog.

The horses returned to the stables with minor wounds and the dog was seized before being returned to its owner.

Yvonne, 13, recognisable by her big ears, has been a police horse since October 2020.

Snaffles, 15, previously worked in public order policing in central London.

Sgt Astley said the routine patrol “turned out to be unexpectedly eventful, where our hardworking police horses were sadly injured in the course of their duty”.

Investigations are ongoing and no arrests have been made.

The Met is appealing for any witnesses to come forward.