UNITED KINGDOM -- Pet lover Kirsten Harder is warning dog owners to beware after her Springer Spaniel was severely injured in an unprovoked attack by another dog in Titchfield Common.
Kirsten Harder with children Ella and Euan and dog Lily
The 40-year-old mother was left distraught and fearing her dog Lily would be killed after the other animal bit its stomach while they walked.
Kirsten Harder with children Ella and Euan and dog Lily
The 40-year-old mother was left distraught and fearing her dog Lily would be killed after the other animal bit its stomach while they walked.
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| Kirsten Harder with children Ella and Euan and dog Lily |
Lily has been treated for two 10cm gashes on either side of her stomach – which vets said were millimetres away from puncturing the stomach lining – as well as a bite to her shoulder.
“She was quite seriously attacked and it was totally unprovoked,” said the mother-of-two. “It just concerns me that a dog can be so dangerous while children are around.”
Kirsten and daughter, Ella, 10, made their usual Monday dog walk at Kite’s Croft, while her seven-year-old son Euan played football after lessons at St Anthony’s Roman Catholic Primary School.
She said they were walking Lily when a black German Shepherd dog – not on a lead and ahead of its male owner – ran over and attacked her dog at about 4pm.
“My dog ended up on her back and the other dog had his teeth in her and was growling at her, throwing her from side to side,” said Kirsten who lives in Lower Swanwick.
“She was struggling and screaming.
“It all happened so quickly. My daughter ended up running off, and when she came back she said sorry she just couldn’t watch anymore.”
As Kirsten, another woman dog walker and the male dog owner tried to pull the German Shepherd off Lily, it dug its teeth in further.
“It bit me on the finger,” added Kirsten, who is a trainee teacher at Eastleigh College. “This guy got hold of his dog and walked away without giving us a back glance or apologising.
“The other woman was a life saver and kicked the dog off. She shouted back at the man and said she’d seen the dog attack others before. She said when she first came over, she was coming over to warn me.”
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| Lily's gashed stomach was stitched up by vets and was millimetres away from being punctured |
Kirsten told her to give the details to the police who are investigating the incident. Meanwhile Kirsten could be facing a vet bill of more than £350 for Lily’s treatment.
“With the recent news stories, I just really want to make people aware there’s a dog like that in the area and for parents and children to be aware,” said Kirsten.
Ella added: “It was not a nice sight. All I could see was him shaking her around by his mouth, like a baby would a rattle.
“I’m very relieved that she survived because I didn’t think she would. That’s why I ran away because I thought she was dead.”
Police are appealing for anyone who saw anything of the incident last Monday (January 23) afternoon or who knows the German Shepherd dog owner to contact them on 101.
(Western Wards Gazette - Jan 28, 2012)
