A DOG is lucky to be alive after it was attacked by an American XL bulldog in an incident that also saw its owner suffer injuries to her hand.

Police are investigating the dangerous dog incident, which took place at Nursling Plantation in Aldermoor Road, Lordshill earlier this week. 

The 27-year-old dog lover, who asked not to be named, was walking her 'soft' family dog between 8am and 9am on Tuesday (November 1) when the unprovoked attack took place.

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She told the Daily Echo: "It was so scary and came from nowhere really. It locked its jaws onto my dog and was going for his neck. He was protecting his neck with his shoulder and suffered some nasty injuries.

"I tried to help and I was also bitten on the hand. I had blood all over me, mine and my dogs. He weighs 34kg, if he was a smaller dog he would have been dead. 

"He was kept in overnight by the vet who told me he was lucky to be alive. The puncture wounds and bite marks on his shoulder are so deep that the vet can't yet tell how serious the injuries are. We have to go back on Friday once the swelling has gone down for another assessment.

Daily Echo:

"He's certainly very, very sad and feeling sorry for himself.

"I've got a deep teeth mark on my knuckle, but I had to do something to try to get the dog away. I'm on antibiotics and had to have a tetanus jab. 

"This was a big, strong, violent and out-of-control dog. We won't be going over to the field again."

Daily Echo:

Pictures show the extent of the wounds to the pet's shoulder, right front leg, side, cheek and inner leg.  He has suffered puncture wounds to the shoulder and bad tissue damage around the neck. More will be known once his wounds have started to heal.

A Hampshire police spokesman confirmed that enquiries were ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information should call 101 or visit hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/ quoting reference 44220443935.

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