Harris Hawk Bites Off Jack Russell's Tongue

From The Daily Record comes this horror story:

A HORRIFIED dog owner has told how a hawk attacked his Jack Russell and ripped out its tongue.

Ian Farquhar, 47, was walking Ollie when the female Harris hawk swooped. It clamped its talons on the dog’s head before going for its tongue.

The four-year-old may now have to be put down because it will have to be hand-fed.

Gardener Ian said: “Ollie was screaming and I was crying. I was covered in blood.

“The bird grabbed on to his head and you could see its beak in Ollie’s mouth. It was yanking at the tongue.”

The hawk’s owner Colin Kirk ran over and got the bird off Ollie. He drove Ian and his dog to the vet.

But Ian added: “The vet said Ollie will never be the same again. He had to get a lump in his mouth sewed to stop him choking and half his tonsils taken out. I don’t know what his quality of life will be. I might have to have him put down.

Farquhar has asked that the hawk be destroyed, and the owner has agreed.  

Oddly enough, this is not the first Harris Hawk attack in the U.K. -- a small boy was ripped up around the face in November. 

I suspect the problem in the U.K. is that they do not have the same falconry apprenticeship programs that we have (and are required) in the U.S.  Anyone can buy a hawk, eagle, or owl in the U.K., without any training or apprenticeship at all.  The only requirement is that the bird be captive-bred.
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