A woman who was attacked by a banned breed dog has told of the ‘petrifying moments’ it came towards her.
Ewa says she was walking along the other side of Thurnham Road in Ashton-on-Ribble when she saw two dogs running loose.
She said: “I saw them on the other side of the street, one big dog and a little one.
“I turned around to go back the other way as it looked like they had escaped.
“And then the bigger dog, the bully, it came towards me and went for me and I was petrified. I was in shock.
“It jumped and chased. And I put my hands up. And it bit my hand, my fingers and was pushing me down.”
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Ewa, who asked not to give her surname, said she began to shout for help and two men came and helped to pull the dog off her and it ran away.
The 43-year-old account manager told Blog Preston: “I was so scared. If those men had not been there then I hate to think what would have happened.”
Her injuries needed hospital attention, with bites to her hand, arm and fingers during the attack on Tuesday 25 February as well as extensive bruising.
The pictures below show Ewa’s injuries
Preston Police attended and the dog was confirmed to be an XL Bully, which was banned in England and Wales last year, and it was taken to the vets to be put down.
Ewa said she has been left disappointed by the actions of the police.
She said: “They have told me the case is closed because the dog is put down.
“But why is the owner not facing prosecution for having a banned breed?
“I am really disappointed by how the police have handled this and I will be making a complaint.”
Messages sent from the police to Ewa state “it has been deemed most suitable for a community resolution, that being the acceptable behaviour order and euthanasian.”
The police went on to say “the owner did not have the legal documents for the XL Bully. I believe she was under the impression that it was exempt from requiring registration due to its size, weight and sex.”
Messages seen by Blog Preston show the police suggest Ewa should take civil proceedings against the owner as they considered the case closed.
A police spokesperson confirmed no charges had been brought against the owner but an Acceptable Behaviour Contract had been served.
A police spokesperson told Blog Preston: “We were called at 5.40pm on 25th February to Thurnham Road, Ashton, Preston, to a report of a dog bite.
“Officers attended and it was found that a woman in her 40s had been bitten by an XL Bully.
“She required hospital treatment for a minor bite injury to her arm.
“The owner of the dog voluntarily signed the dog over and it was taken to a vet, where it was humanely put to sleep.”
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