United Kingdom: Two guide dogs were attacked in the same area of woodland, leaving one of their owners housebound

UNITED KINGDOM -- Jason Lane’s beloved Golden Labrador Crispin was set upon by two hounds in Warley Woods, near Bearwood.

He soon learned that fellow Bearwood resident and guide dog owner Daniel Lethbridge had been through the same ordeal in exactly the same place.

Mr Lane, 45, who has no sight in his left and limited eye-sight in his right as a result of diabetes, said: “My attack when I was out with my partner Jonathan and my dog Crispin.

"There is an area of Warley Woods where lots of people walk their dogs, and these two Lurchers were with a woman nearby. They just came at him, the two of them acting as a pack.”

Mr Lane’s faithful four-year-old guide dog suffered a puncture wound just above his back legs, which put him out of action for two weeks.

This left Mr Lane housebound at his Milcote Road property during the festive period.

Since then, Mr Lane learned through the local Guide Dogs Organisation, of Mr Lethbridge’s attack.

Mr Lethbridge, of Park Road, relies on his guide dog, six-year-old German Shepherd Midge, as a result of the condition Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy.

When an Akita-type dog attacked him and Midge at the end of May, Mr Lethbridge could just make out a large dark shape.

“I was very shaken up. All I knew was that there was something big and black and growling.”

At the time the 40-year-old was with his wife Joanne, 46, and her little dog at around 6.30pm.

“This large dog went for my wife’s little dog and Midge got in between, and then started at Midge. Then it went for me and bit my right forearm,” he said.

He was taken to City Hospital by ambulance. Although his injury has now healed he is still feeling the psychological impact, and like Mr Lane now avoids that area of the woods.

Andrea Jones of the Guide Dogs Organisation said: “Shockingly, since 2010, the number of reported dog attacks on guide dogs has increased from three to 11 per month nationally.

"Imagine not being able to see and just hearing the noise of a dog coming out of nowhere and attacking your dog. It is incredibly scary.

“Our message for all dog owners is that if you see an assistance dog, please keep your dog on a lead and under control at all times, as a precaution.’

(Express and Star - Aug 5, 2016)