UNITED KINGDOM -- The victim of a dog attack which left him with no feeling in the tip of his thumb has spoken of his relief that the animal’s owner has been brought to justice.
Jack Devlin had his thumb bitten by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier belonging to Gilbert Revels last summer.
At Newry Court earlier this month Revels, of Poyntzpass Road, Loughbrickland, was convicted under the Dangerous Dogs Order of being the keeper of the black dog which attacked Jack in Loughbrickland Park on June 29 last year.
Revels was ordered to pay £1,500 in compensation and £97 in costs. The dog was ordered to be put down.
Jack, now 22, said the attack, which happened when he had been out walking his two pups in the park, had left him with damage to his thumb..
“I used to be captain of Aghaderg Gaelic Reserves team and I tried to get back into it after the attack but I just can’t play anymore.”
And working as a tiler, Jack admits the incident has also affected his ability to do his job.
During the attack Jack’s eight-week-old pup suffered cuts to its stomach, back and leg. The Loughbrickland man said that, while he is not afraid of dogs, he has been much more wary of the animals since the attack.
“I would just be aware and if I saw a bigger dog coming towards me I would think back to what happened that day.
Jack, and his father Richard, said they hope the incident raises awareness of dangerous dogs and how serious the consequences of keeping one can be.
Jack said, “I am just happy someone has been caught and punished for this and I hope people are now more aware of how this kind of thing can happen.”
Speaking at the time of the attack Jack said, “I was shook up and so were the dogs but we’re all getting there now. I’d be wary of walking down to the park now,” he said. “I love dogs but I wouldn’t want what happened to me to happen to somebody else. If the dog had got hold of a child it could have ripped the face off them.”
(Dromore Today - Sept 19, 2012)
