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| Kevin pictured after the dog attack. |
Kevin Windsor, aged 58, and his wife Karen, aged 48, decided enjoy a sunset walk on Weston’s Beach Lawns with their 10-year-old cocker spaniel, Lottie.
Within minutes of arriving at the Beach Road site, the couple said a muscular ‘boxer-type’ dog, which was not on a lead, came bounding towards them and attacked Lottie.
Kevin, of Uphill, said: “All of a sudden this dog was trying to tear chunks out of Lottie and as the owner came over, her other dog, who we think was on a lead, joined in.
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| Lottie after the stitches |
“Karen managed to run back over to the car with Lottie and then I don’t know what happened as I ended up on the floor.
“I didn’t hit or hurt the dog. I was just trying to protect Lottie, but I was left with a dog bite to my face which had bled all down my top, a cut and bruised arm, a cut hand and a rip in my trousers.”
The couple said they were left so traumatised they were unable to go to work the next day, and are now urging people to keep their dogs on leads if they fear they may have an aggressive temperament.
Lottie had to be taken to an emergency veterinary practice for surgery overnight. She needed several stitches and the Windsors were left facing a £400 bill.
Karen said: “We were just so shocked and goodness knows what could have happened if this was to a child or an elderly person - it could have been much worse.
“We feel we have to warn members of the public about these dogs.
“Lottie is still nervous now and although not all dogs are like this, which is why it’s hard to give advice, we want people to be aware of these things.”
A spokesman from North Somerset Council said there are currently no plans to introduce a new dog control order for Beach Lawns, but stressed owners must keep control of their dogs – whether on or off a lead.
Police said the case is being investigated, but no arrests have been made.
(Mercury24 - June 5, 2011)
