The owners of one of two dogs which savaged a fox on an estate have hit back at accusations that the pet is dangerous.

Ham & High: The two dogs, believed to be Staffordshire bull terriers, inspect the fox after killing it on the Hillgrove Estate.The two dogs, believed to be Staffordshire bull terriers, inspect the fox after killing it on the Hillgrove Estate. (Image: Archant)

The dogs, which live with separate owners in Dobson Close, on the Hillgrove Estate, Swiss Cottage, attacked and killed a fox in front of shocked onlookers last month.

But Jacqueline Webb, 50, whose daughter owns a dark brown Staffordshire bull terrier called Roxy, says the pet is completely harmless and “like a baby”.

“The dog is not a killer,” said Mrs Webb, who is happy to leave her 12-year-old son Shane alone with Roxy. “Roxy is more like a human being than an animal. She’s treated like a baby,” she said.

Last week the Ham&High published a photograph of Roxy and another white dog mauling a fox after residents living near to the Hillgrove Estate raised fears about the animals.

Police were called to Belsize Road after residents reported the fox attack and Swiss Cottage councillor Don Williams said he believed the dogs could be a threat to young children.

Dogs owners living near the estate said they had been terrified by a number of incidents in which, they claim, the pets allegedly attacked other dogs walking along Belsize Road with their owners.

Despite signs in Dobson Close warning dog owners to keep their pets on leashes at all times, residents told the Ham&High that both dogs are allowed to roam freely through the estate.

But Mrs Webb dismissed these claims and insisted: “How neighbours can say they are petrified of walking by Dobson Close because of these dogs, I don’t know. My dog never comes out of the flat. If she does she is on a leash.”

Mrs Webb said that while Roxy is never allowed onto the streets off her leash, she is allowed to roam on the patch of public grass where the fox attack took place behind the family home.

After the attack Mrs Webb said the family was visited by police and the RSPCA in relation to the complaints made about Roxy.

“They were hammer and tongs at the door, they were like ‘Where’s the dog?’ because Roxy didn’t even bark,” she explained.

“They were shocked by how placid she was. They didn’t take her away because they could see she’s not a dangerous dog.”

The owner of the other dog, who wished to remain anonymous, has also denied that his pet is a danger to other dogs or humans.