On Wednesday evening, a routine walk in Leeghwater Park in Purmerend, the Netherlands, turned into a nightmare. Raymond van der Erf was there with Bumper, a Golden Retriever assistance dog.
While they were training peacefully, two teenagers on a fat bike did the unthinkable: they set off a firecracker at point-blank range.
A senseless attack in the park
The firecracker exploded just a few feet away. Bumper is specially trained to remain calm in stressful situations, but he was utterly terrified. "He was in a complete panic," says Raymond. "If he hadn’t been on his lead, he would have bolted in terror."
Raymond immediately sat on the ground beside him to calm him down. By then, the teenagers had disappeared.
More than just a dog
Back at home, the shock was still palpable. Danniek, who relies heavily on Bumper, was visibly very upset. Shirley, his mother, was furious and posted an outraged message on Facebook. Emotions were running high.
"Whoever does this has no idea what they are destroying," she later said. "We fought so hard to get this assistance dog."
Bumper joined the family at the beginning of the year, after a long and intense process. For Danniek, who has a learning disability, everything changed.
Before, he barely dared to go outside. Now, he can go to the supermarket, the park, and into town again. He talks more and he lives more.
"Bumper makes us a family again," Shirley confides. "And an act like this can destroy everything in an instant."
Even though Bumper seems physically fine, uncertainty remains. Assistance dogs are trained from a very young age to recognise and soothe panic. But they can suffer from trauma too.
"If Bumper can no longer do his job properly, it will directly affect Danniek," explains Shirley. "That’s our biggest fear."
For now, the family is keeping Bumper at home for a few days so he can rest. This means no training, no park, and extra strain for Danniek.
Despite everything, Raymond doesn't want to be driven away. "It’s a beautiful place," he says. "But from now on, I’ll be extra vigilant."
The bang from a firecracker lasts only a second. The consequences can linger for months, or even longer.
