Sam Lodge, 53, was walking home on Weelsby Street South, Grimsby, when she came across a woman walking a whippet-like dog. She was told the dog was friendly and she leaned down to pet it.
Sam ended up mutilated in the face, exposing the cartilage in her nose and leaving her with severe injuries.
The woman has already undergone several facial operations to try and regrow the skin.
However, she was warned that the sensation on her face may never return due to nerve damage.
Sam said she loves dogs and was sad to have been the victim of the attack on Friday April 1.
Speaking to Grimsby Live, Sam said: “I was out for a walk and was almost home when I met the dog.
“I adore dogs and have always petted or stroked them whenever I have met them.
“I asked if the dog was friendly and the owner told me he was, so I leaned down to pet him.
“That’s when the dog came to get me, nothing like this has ever happened to me before.
“At first I just thought the dog had headbutted me and it wasn’t until I got home and washed my face that I realized exactly what had happened. past. It was a shock.”
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Sam said she didn’t want to see the dog that attacked her put down, but wanted its owner to learn how to put a muzzle on her.
She explained: “I would hate to see the sleeping dog, I love dogs. I just want people to be more careful and tell people if their dog isn’t safe.
“If it was a small child there could have been a lot more damage – clearly it wasn’t safe.”
After the incident, Sam went to the hospital to get checked out and was told she would need major surgery to repair her injuries.
She said: “They removed a flap of skin from my hairline and attached it to the bridge of my nose.
“They then twisted my nose to help the skin accept it. I have 16 stitches in my face and am now waiting for it to start to heal. I was told it could take 18 months before that I feel anything in my head and I never could.
“I go out less per minute because it hurts me to walk in the wind.
“I have another operation in about three weeks to try to get myself to look normal again. If I’m honest, I’d like to turn back the clock. I miss not being at work and I’m really hoping I can emphasize to others that they need to make sure the dogs are safe before people pet them.”
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A Humberside Police spokesperson said: ‘The owner of the dog is described as being around 5’7’ tall, slim and in her early 50s.
“She was wearing glasses, dark clothes and a hoodie. The dog is described as a medium sized whippet type cross.
“We are asking the owner of this dog to come forward.
“We also ask that if anyone was in the area at the time of the incident and has any information that would assist us in our investigations, please call us on our non-emergency number 101 quoting reference 16/43260/ 22.”
Dog attacks are on the rise in the UK, with 2018 seeing 8,389 hospitalizations following similar incidents.
It marked an increase from 2002, which saw 3,395 people hospitalized following dog attacks.
In the 10 years to 2022, there have been at least 32 deaths from canine attacks according to the Office for National Statistics.
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Source: www.express.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-04-13 16:43:00
