Terror of blind Sturry woman Linda Brooks when vicious bull terrier attacked guide dog in park

UNITED KINGDOM -- A blind woman has relived the terror she felt when her guide dog was viciously attacked in a public park by a Staffordshire bull terrier.

Linda Brooks, of Sleigh Road, Sturry, spoke of the horrific ordeal after learning about recent dog attacks in Bridge.

The 62-year-old said it has left her a nervous wreck and fearful of going out alone, with her retriever Abbey still recovering from her injuries.

The mother-of-two said the frightening incident has made her anxious and seriously dented her confidence.

She said: "Abbey was on a lead, but the bull terrier was running loose and it just went straight for her throat. I will never forget her screams for as long as I live.

"I was slapping out but, of course, couldn't see. It was an awful feeling knowing that I just couldn't help her."

Her husband Fred, 64, a retired toolmaker, said: "The dog's jaws were really clamped around Abbey's neck and I was desperately trying to prise them open, but they wouldn't budge. I was thinking 'for God's sake Abbey, don't die'."

Fortunately, a park warden was nearby and arrived on the scene in a Land Rover, tooting his horn loudly and distracting the bull terrier for long enough for Abbey to be rescued.

But she suffered severe puncture wounds to her throat and is still on antibiotics to prevent an infection.

Mrs Brooks said: "She is quite subdued and it has knocked her confidence too.

"We later found out that the owner of the dog was asleep under a tree. They just went off with the dog afterwards without saying a word but the park warden followed her and found her address.

"But it was very frightening and families with children were clearly upset because they moved away while it was going on."

Mrs Brooks was born with a hereditary eye disease, which has rendered her almost totally blind. Abbey is her third guide dog and she has had her for five years.

She said she had to speak out after reading of dog walkers and their pets being attacked recently in Bridge and the initial police reluctance to pursue the cases.

She said: "Ours happened when we were visiting Chesham in Buckinghamshire and we had a similar experience when we called the police there.

"I really had to press them to do something about it because there is a law which says that owners must keep their dogs under control in a public place.

(Kent Online - Aug 22 2013)