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'Monster dog' attacks mum in city park

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Published Date:
19 July 2007
A CITY mum could be left scarred for life after being attacked by a "monster dog" at Ferry Meadows country park.
Jacqueline Marshall is today nursing painful two-inch deep wounds to her upper arm and back after a black bull mastiff mauled her while she was enjoying a day out with family at Ferry Meadows, Peterborough.

Miss Marshall was rushed to A & E by paramedics after the animal "charged" towards her, launching two savage onslaughts.

The screaming housewife crawled into bushes to escape after being bitten on her upper arm and back.

Today, Miss Marshall called for people to be aware of dogs when taking their children out to the city's attractions during the summer holidays.

She said: "The public need to be aware that when they take there children to parks, there are a lot of dogs out there. Owners must keep their dogs on a lead but they don't always listen.

"A dog attack happened to me, but if it was a small child, they wouldn't have stood a chance."

Miss Marshall, from Cathwaite, Paston, was with her partner Nicholas Owen (35) and his eight-year-old son Harry when the incident happened.

While the trio were feeding ducks, mum-of-two Miss Marshall noticed the dog walking towards her.

She alleges two women were straining to hold the animal by its collar but it broke loose.

What happened next has played out in her mind in terrifying flashbacks since her ordeal took place on Saturday at 8.30pm.

She said: "It was a monster of a dog. The dog wasn't on its lead and one of the women had it by the collar. It was running on the spot trying to get at me. She was holding on to it as much as she could but the dog was so big.

"It tripped over trying to get at me. I remember just saying 'no' and turned my body. It jumped on me and I fell to the floor. It was biting my arm."

Mr Owen managed to drag the powerful hound off his cowering girlfriend, but seconds later it pounced again, this time tearing though her clothes and biting her on her back.

She said: "People were screaming and the dog was barking. I keep getting flashbacks and hearing the sounds all over again. I can't sleep."

She said Harry has also been left shaken after witnessing the attack.

A police spokesman said: "A man has been reported for failing to keep a dog under control in a public place and a file will be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service after which a decision will be made whether or not to prosecute."

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  • Last Updated: 19 July 2007 11:56 AM
  • Source: Peterborough ET
  • Location: Peterborough
 
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Debbie R,

Bretton, Peterborough 19/07/2007 14:21:47
This is one of my biggest nightmares when I am out walking my dog. Earlier this year, I actually stopped walking him around Bretton Park as I was terrified on a nightly basis by the constant stream of other dogs that were off their leads and allowed (by their owners) to come charging toward us. The walks became too stressful as I spend the entire hour looking over my shoulder for fear that MY dog would end up being attacked and mauled. I'd shouted and screamed on several occassions to other dog owners that their dogs should be on a lead - especially if they are not going to listen to their owner and all I ever got was verbal abuse or looks. I then took to Ferry Meadows, which, I have to say, has been a very pleasant experience... so far... but something always has to spoil it. Was this dog that attacked Mr Marshall always vicious? Did the owners know that he was likely to attack? Certain breeds, (including Bull Mastiffs) in my opinion should ALWAYS be keot on a lead. My dog is by no means small, but he is never let off the lead. He has freedom on a very long extendable lead which myself and my partner have full control over. I feel terrible sorry for Ms Marshall, not only is she likely to be physically scarred for life, the mental scars are bound to be even worse. I wish her a speedy recovery and just hope that she understands that not all dog owners are as careless. I hate to think what this newspaper report would have said had it been a child or another animal the dog had attacked.
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metal basher,

Huntingdonshire 19/07/2007 18:36:38
The laws on owning dogs need to be looked at. All dogs have the potential to harm people, when you think about it most breeds developed either for their hunting or guarding ability and it is only fairly recently that the idea of them as pets came about. Dog licensing should be reintroduced and licences only issued when the owner can prove the dog is under control (off the lead) and is being well cared for. Any unlicensed ( not microchiped dog should be destroyed). Also extending leads are a danger , I have a rescued greyhound type dog, by the time she would have got to the end of such a lead she could be going at well over 20 mph. Coming to a dead stop at the end of such a lead would break her neck. Seeing her run free is a beautiful sight and it would be cruel to keep her on a lead for the rest of her life. It is no trouble to put her on a lead when there are strangers about that she does not know.
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Gee,

Paston 20/07/2007 00:36:45
My dog was attacked by another dog on the 16.07.2007.I have been ill and my neighbour has been taking him out. He is a staffie but is never off the lead I to get sick and tired of dogs being off the lead.This dog is constantly off the lead and had had a go at mine before but not a lot of harm was done that time.This time my neighbour saw the dog racing to him and tried to outrun it, unfortunately it caught and got hold of my dog on the head hanging on to my dogs lip.The breed of the dog was a pitbull and he wasnt letting go, the screams from my dog were awful.My neighbour had to kick it off the dogs owner couldnt get it off. When they got my dog home he was shaking and in shock,I took him to the vets and he was put into surgery as the dog had torn thru his gum and he had to have a tooth removed plus minor injuries.Cost stands at the moment £207.00. I called the police and there said there was nothing they could do but go and have a word.Dispite the fact the dog should have been on a lead and mussled.The owner apparently laughed when he found out my dogs injuries and how much the vets bill was.It is the owner at fault they think it is a big deal to own such a dog and let it roam free, especially when he is a tattoed skinhead, who is built like a brick s..t house, who will challenge him. Obviously not the police they will wait until it is a child.
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