Bristol gran's terror as dog savaged by bull terrier
A Bristol grandmother has told how a "hero" neighbour saved her dog after it was savaged by a Staffordshire bull terrier.
Lynda Brighton's beloved two-year-old West Highland terrier, Gracie, was severely bitten on her throat and neck.
The 61-year-old suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and rarely leaves her home on Trym Leaze, Sea Mills. But as she sat in her garden, the female bull terrier-cross, which belongs to a neighbour, struck.
Lynda said: "It was a nice sunny day so I thought I would sit outside my front door. Gracie was on a lead and I looked across the road and saw a Staffordshire bull terrier.
"Gracie had already been attacked by that dog about a year ago so I got up to go inside, but the dog shot across the road and pinned her down. I was very, very frightened – it came at her like a torpedo.
"I was shouting for help and a young girl came across and tried to help, but the dog was so strong. I was hitting it, the girl was hitting it but he wouldn't let go."
Neighbour Dave Lewis came to help and prised the cross-breed's mouth open with the leg of the chair Lynda had been sitting on.
Lynda said: "He had bitten all of her throat and neck," she added. "Dave is a hero as far as I can see. If he hadn't been there I don't think we would have saved her."
Gracie suffered puncture wounds to her neck, which had to be stapled up by a vet.
Mr Lewis, who was in his back garden with his wife Alison when he heard cries for help, said: "It's a bit embarrassing to be called a hero, I just saw the little white dog and wanted to help her," said the 55-year-old, who owns a Yorkshire terrier called Barney.
"I ran in and kicked the dog but it had no effect. So I put the leg of the chair under its chin and pulled until it opened its mouth.
"It was only when I was holding the Staffy down for half an hour that I feared she might turn on me."
The police were called and a dog warden arrived, but not before the owners, who live in nearby Meadway, had taken their dog away.
They told to the Post that they had the pet put down on the same day as the attack, last Thursday.
Grandmother-of-eight Lynda said: "They had the dog put down and have offered to pay for the £200 vet's bill."
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by sue, seamills bristol
Friday, May 01 2009, 6:34AM
“every one has said there comments some good some stupid well hears mine i have 4 dogs 3 are good with dogs and people 1 is bad with people and dogs i have done obedience training for years and in some cases it may be down to owners but not all the time it just turns out that way but if you have a dog which ever breed it should be kept under contol at all times like mine if i let him off lead he will have a muzzle on and he certainly cant get out my garden and if he did attact any thing he would be put to sleep or if he started getting out my garden i would be very up set but it would have to be done so the person in this case who had to be put to sleep i do feel for you and i feel for the person who was also attacted as i had a dog die in my own back garden once by a english bull terrier but dogs will be dogs which ever breed my daughter as always had staffs and they are lovely but if you have not got time to train or control it dont own one it is that simple”
by Reanne, bristol
Wednesday, April 29 2009, 5:18PM
“sally from Seamills, You say this dog was a nice dog, right??! But it obviously wasnt as sencible and nice as you make out, as he obviously couldnt be trusted to be let off the lead and he shouldnt of been let off unless they were in a park at the time but by the sounds of it they werent! So what was the dog doing off the lead in the first place?? hmm?!”
by Anon, Sea Mills, Bristol
Wednesday, April 29 2009, 12:23PM
“All i can say is whats done is done, if people could turn back time they would, but they can't. And yes everyones points on here are true, yes the dog should have been put down first time but it never coz of being a family dog but when it done it again second time round within an hour the dog was put down. The owners have took all responsibilty for the dogs actions and took all the stick from everyone that came with it. As Dean said both families have known eachother for a very very long time and i think now it's time to stop with all the arguing over it when it's not worth it. And as for Dave, if it wasn't for him the dog might not have been here so everybody will always thank him for that. But the dog is gone now, no more trouble and no more hassle and thank god nothing terrible did happen but now's the time to start moving on.”
by anon 2, bristol
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 10:47PM
“My mother had a dog (lab)it didnt like other dogs it would go nuts around them if i let it off the lead i dread to think what would happen but when it was in the house and with children you couldnt find a nicer well behave dog ???”
by anon, sea mills
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 10:03PM
“just to make it clear i'm not the person who wrote the first message on here under ''anonymous'' so we'll just rule that one out. And all i was trying to say was i didn't like the way Anne from Derbyshire said the dog got took away after last time when it never. The owners lived in Trymleaze and recently moved to meadway so how is that taking the dog away for a while ?!?!”
by sally, seamills
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 7:29PM
“i am a friend of the family and ive watched the children play with cassie hundreds of times and never has she turned on them!! its dogs she dont like thats why she was kept in obviously!! accidents do happen and thats how she escaped "by accident" so all you people out there judging the dog and the family!!! hush!!! let the family grieve over there family pet and let them move on! yes it sad what happend to the other dog! but its done now time to move on!!”
by dean, sea mills
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 6:02PM
“yet again in reply to annonymous of sea mills, firstly just to clarify a few facts, anne from derbyshire is in fact a relative and is fully aware of the facts, secondly the previous vets bill of £450 has not been re'paid by the owners, this however is not the issue at this time, i dare to ask if you are as you state a friend of a friend of the owners are you yourself in possession of the full facts???.
at no time did the "neighbourhood" gather in it's masses with pitchforks and burning torches and demand retribution!!, my family simply expected the owners to "do the right thing" this was done and no further action was needed, the dog on two occasions acted in a dangerous manner irrespective of its previous nature around the family this is fact!!, your comments are not constructive or objective to be honest, maybe you yourself are fueling the negative argument about SBT'S that some of the responsible owners that have commented so far are trying to avoid???.”
by Also irritated, Bristol
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 6:00PM
“Totally agreed with irritated . . . . although my thoughts do go out to the family of the dog that had to be put down . . . . NOT. End of the day we all know SBT, Pitbulls and such other aggressive animals are just a way of saying "look at me im a chav". Get yourself a cat and be done with it”
by Michelle, Bristol
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 5:51PM
“Liz that is exactly what we are saying it's not the dogs to blame its the owners!!”
by irritated, bristol
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 5:29PM
“what planet does anonymous live on ? owning a dog is a responsibility- (just like being a good parent) . why should anyone take time to think about the family pet being put down to "please the neighbourhood"?
Did the family take time to think about whether it was kept in a secure environment to PROTECT the neighbourhood? unfortunately nowadays there are people who DO let their dogs (aswell as their kids) roam the streets & when something goes wrong - guess what.......its usually SOMEONE ELSES fault!”