Claire said she was injured as she tried to save her dog Ken from being attacked
Claire with her Westie-Poodle cross Ken(Image: Claire Robinson)
A woman said she was bitten by a Staffordshire bull terrier after it clamped its jaws around her little dog’s neck. Claire Robinson, 41, was walking her four-year-old dog Ken when the small Westie-Poodle cross was attacked by the staffy, which she said was running off its lead near Otterspool Promenade.
Claire told the ECHO: “I ran over and as I ran I was shouting at (the owner) to grab the lead because it was on the floor, but she didn’t bother. I threw myself on top of both the dogs and pulled them apart. The dog then bit me on the hand.”
The incident occurred on the field outside the leisure centre at around 7.30am yesterday, July 9. Claire said she was walking with Ken off-lead when she noticed the staffy was also off its lead with another dog, a Rottweiler, and a female owner standing nearby.
She said: “The dogs had their leads attached, but she wasn’t holding the leads and the dogs were running around after a ball. As my dog walked by, the staffy went for my dog and got hold of him.
“When I managed to pull them apart and stand up I said ‘you need to give me your details’ and she said no and ran off. I was quite distressed and upset at the time.
Ken suffered bite wounds to his neck and back legs(Image: Claire Robinson)
“A guy was there in his car at the time, letting off racing pigeons, and said he would try to get a picture, but I was traumatised and not in a good state so I wasn’t going to wait around.
“One of the binmen at Otterspool leisure centre drove me to my car because my legs were like jelly. I was bleeding, the dog was bleeding.”
Ken suffered bite wounds to his neck and stomach, and was rushed to the vets where he was given stitches, antibiotics and inflammatory medication for bruising. Meanwhile Claire went to Garston walk-in centre, where she was treated for a bite to her hand.
Ken suffered bite wounds to his neck and back legs(Image: Claire Robinson)
She said: “This morning I went back to the same place at the same time in the hope of getting further details, and there was the same man there letting off pigeons. He spoke to me and that helped me.
“When you’re in that situation you’re in shock and traumatised. But we couldn’t believe she just stood there and watched her dog rip into mine. It could have been a lot worse and that’s the thing that’s worrying me going forward.
“I feel traumatised if I’m honest. I’m just really shook up.
“It’s not a nice thing to step in between two dogs, but what would have been the outcome if I didn’t? I wouldn’t be able to live with that either. I’m hurt and upset.”
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