Lawson Bond · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 22 April 2022 I commenced an investigation and opened an inquest into the death of Lawson Bond, a child of 2½ years of age. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 21 August 2023.

The conclusion of the inquest was that Lawson died as the result of misadventure.

In answer to the questions “when, where and how did Lawson come by his death?”, I recorded as follows:

“On 28.3.22 Lawson Bond was attacked and mauled by an adult Rottweiler at his home in Egdon. The Rottweiler was in a field at the address, to which Lawson had gained access from his garden by climbing a gate and unhitching a security chain. He was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, and then to Birmingham Children's Hospital, where he died from his injuries on the morning of 30.3.22.”

The Rottweiler which mauled Lawson was one of eight adult Rottweilers kept by Lawson’s grandmother ████████. For many years, ████████ had been running a business breeding Rottweilers and advertising Rottweiler puppies for sale. She ought to have obtained a licence to carry out these activities, as per The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, but had never had one.

(1) In evidence to the inquest, ████████, Principal Licensing Officer in the Licensing Team at Worcestershire Regulatory Services, agreed that the Licensing Team has a role in trying to identify unlicensed breeders, but stated that in this respect the Team is “intelligence-led”, i.e. that they will only act on information received or complaints made. Whilst the Team has an intelligence officer who will monitor websites, such monitoring will only take place in response to information received or a complaint made. The Team does not take a more pro-active approach generally, for example by searching websites and social media on a regular basis;
(2) The inquest received evidence from staff at the Worcestershire Coroner’s Office, who had undertaken two separate internet searches looking for Rottweiler puppies for sale within the Worcestershire area. These searches were conducted on 9 June 2023 and 28 June 2023, and found recent adverts placed by ████████ on two separate websites ████████, advertising Rottweiler puppies for sale. An identically worded advert was also found in the name of ████████ ████████ accepted in evidence that this advert was placed on her behalf;
(3) It might be thought that a regulatory authority would have less reason to be concerned about a scrupulous dog breeder, who applies and pays for a dog breeding licence, than about a dog breeder who ignores the licensing scheme. It is therefore concerning that Worcestershire Regulatory Services does not, at present, take a more pro-active approach in this regard, for example by monitoring websites for adverts placed by those selling puppies within its area. It would be quite possible to specify searches in such a way as to concentrate on breeds which might give a greater cause for concern in terms of safety.

For all of the above reasons, I am concerned that unless Regulatory Services within Wychavon District Council take action, there will remain a risk that unscrupulous unlicensed breeders will continue to offer puppies and dogs for sale within the Wychavon area, which present a heightened risk of danger to those who buy them and who come into contact with them.