Plymouth woman scarred for life after dog attack in park
A 60-year-old woman who was attacked by a dog that looked like a "teddy-bear" will be left with permanent scars, police have said.
The incident happened at around 9am on Monday when the woman was walking her dog in Mutley Park, off Thorn Park, in Mannamead.
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Plymouth woman scarred for life after dog attack in park
Officers say the woman came across a man, who she has seen in the park before, also walking his dog. She stopped to say hello to him and bent down to stroke his dog, which was on its lead.
The dog grabbed the woman's arm and shook it vigorously, police said.
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PC Rebecca Springbett, neighbourhood beat manager for the area, who is investigating the attack, said: "When the woman pulled her sleeve back she discovered she had lost a chunk of skin. She placed her other hand underneath the wound and there was blood pooling and running down her leg. She was bleeding profusely."
The woman was taken to Derriford Hospital by a friend but was told by doctors in A&E that the injury was too bad to be stitched.
PC Springbett said: "As a consequence of this attack the woman had to have a skin graft operation on Wednesday and will be left with permanent scarring. This was a very frightening experience for her. If it had been a child it could have been a lot worse."
The woman described the dog as a curly-coated, gingery-brown terrier type dog, possibly a Lakeland or Border terrier, or a crossbreed between the two.
She also said in her statement that the dog was "like a teddy-bear and really quite pretty", said PC Springbett.
The male owner of the dog is described as white, aged between 45 and 60, 5ft 8in tall, well built, with mid to dark coloured hair. He was wearing a brown jacket and trousers and was described by the woman as "sounding local".
The man is said to have picked his dog up during the attack in an attempt to get it off the woman and appeared shocked, said PC Springbett.
Anyone who saw the attack, or who may be able to identify the dog or the man, is asked to contact police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting crime reference number EC/12/8459.
Comments
by RustyRed3
Sunday, September 09 2012, 1:51PM
“This happened to my Granddad once, he stroked a dog in a park and it bite him. The owner was devastated and it caused Granddad massive heavy bleeding and a bruise that lasted for a good few months (mainly because he was an elderly man) but he knew it was his own fault so just went to the doctors, had the work done and learnt from his mistake!!! I didn't know this sort of thing was news worthy or that the Police should be involved!!!
It is weird the way people are shocked that a dog may bite! I love cats but I wouldn't go up to one in the street and immediately bend down to stroke it in fear that it will scratch or bite. This wouldn't be an article if it had been a cat and Police certainly wouldn't be looking for the cat's owner. The poor guy probably feels terrible that his dog did it. I don't see why the police NEED to find the owner or the dog! Yes it's terrible the silly lady suffered but it's not like the dog was wildly running about the park and attacked the face of a child, it was on its lead and she approached them.”
by Bwiththeollox
Sunday, September 09 2012, 10:13AM
“This new type of dogging has got pretty dangerous.”
by JAM1989
Sunday, September 09 2012, 12:06AM
“Its her own fault, you dont just bend down and stroke a dog you dont know. You ask the owner before approaching the dog. He had it on a lead, its not like it chased her. She invaded the dogs space. What a stupid woman.”
by belly1234
Saturday, September 08 2012, 6:07PM
“DaveDave2
Yes some dogs are pets, some are working dogs. But if I take my pet to the park, it doesn't give anyone else the right to start petting it, my pet no-one else's.
I bet you wouldn't like it if I went to the park and started staring at your wife's breasts, some people would say they are for stroking as well, but if someone did it to my wife they'd have 8 broken fingers. Yes, I know that's a basic analogy but it's almost the same. Pets are property under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 and Theft Act 1968.”
by DoWhatNow
Friday, September 07 2012, 11:47PM
“@sillysite - Please don't use all capitals. It's very difficult to read, and on most online forums it's considered shouting... PLEASE DON'T SHOUT, I'M NOT BLIND!”
by sillysite
Friday, September 07 2012, 8:21PM
“OH AND DONT GLAMOURIZE THE HEADLINE. WOMAN SCARRED FOR LIFE .ITS HER ARM NOT HER FACE. IM SURE I COULD LIVE WITH IT. WHAT A SILLY WAY TO LOOK AT THINGS TOO OH I WONT TOUCH THAT DOG COZ ITS A ROTTWIELER OR A PITBULL BUT I CAN TOUCH THIS ONE COZ IT LOOKS LIKE A TEDDY BEAR WELL NO YOU CANT BY THE LOOKS OF IT, DONT LET THE DOG SUFFER OVER HUMAN MISJUDGEMENT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by sillysite
Friday, September 07 2012, 8:14PM
“WELL YOU DONT JUST BEND DOWN AND TOUCH A DOG YOU ASK THE OWNER IF YOU CAN AND IF ITS FRIENDLY. IF THE MAN KNEW HIS DOG MAY BITE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUZZLED.ANIMALS ARE UNPREDICTABLE THE MAN PROBABLY WAS SHOCKED .MY DOG COUKLD TURN AS WELL AS ANYONES YOU JUST DONT KNOW. DO NOT PUT THE DOG DOWN IF YOU FIND THE OWNER IT DOES NOT MEAN ITS VICIOUS ALL THE TIME. WE DONT PUT THUGS DOWN AS SOON AS THEY ATTACK SOMEONE MORES THE PITY. IF I WAS THE BITTEN WOMAN I WOULD BEG FOR THE DOG TO NOT BE PUT DOWN I WOULD BLAME MYSELF FOR THINKING I COULD JUST TOUCH IT AND EXPECT IT TO BE OK WITH ME. DOGS CANT TELL YOU IF THEY DONT WANT TO BE TOUCHED .”
by GreenGOM
Friday, September 07 2012, 7:30PM
“All animals are either a threat or a food source.”
by blackpot
Friday, September 07 2012, 7:14PM
“Dave Dave...obviously doesn't like dogs.You dont put a dog down in this sort of situation,the woman was at fault.i was taught from a very early age to at least ask the owner if it was okay to pet the dog.Licensing of dogs i agree with.Putting them down so easily i do not,if any deserves punishment it is the owner.”
by DaveDave2
Friday, September 07 2012, 7:11PM
“The answer to all of your questions is a very definite 'yes.' If you bring an animal into a public place, it is your responsibility to ensure it will not attack people.
People will stroke pets. That's what pets are for - petting. It is not acceptable for an animal to bite someone who attempts to stroke it. If you have an animal with a behavioural problem, you should not bring it out unmuzzled in a public place.
You may think my attitude is harsh, however I cannot adequately express the contempt I feel for those feral families whose psychotic pets have maimed or killed innocent victims. Owning a pet should be considered a privelege, not a right. If you have raised an animal with a behavioural problem, better it be destroyed and you be prevented from keeping other animals than put people at risk.”