Police appeal for witnesses to dog attack

The incident took place in Downs Woods at approximately 8.50am on Wednesday September 22.

Owner of the dog who was attacked, Julie Tester, described what happened:

"I'd just dropped my son off at King Offa school and I was walking my dog 'Princess' on the Downs, near the bottom above the football and cricket pitch.

"All of a sudden a dog came running down the woods, jumped on Princess, knocked her over, sunk her teeth into her leg and started shaking it."

Julie said a woman appeared, shouted at the dog who was mauling Princess and attempted to restrain it. Julie believes this dog to be "a border terrier type", adding:

"The woman said her dog hates greyhounds and she only lets it off the lead when she thinks no-one is around '“ it really laid into Princess."

The woman, who Julie describes as being slim, around 5'4", with brown shoulder length hair, in her mid forties and wearing a lilac top, gave a name and address which subsequently proved to be false.

Following the attack, 9 year old Princess, needed extensive veterinary treatment for her injuries, which included having a metal plate and pins inserted in one leg. Both her back legs were infected from the bites and she suffered bruising.

Julie said her pet's injuries were such that she required a number of antibiotic and morphine injections to control the pain, and anticipates a final vet's bill of around 2,000, adding:

"I'm too afraid to ask what the final vets bill will amount to, but to date it's 1,170."

There have been a number of reported dog attacks in the area of late but Julie blames the owners not the dogs, saying:

"It's down to responsible ownership."

Police have confirmed that the woman in question does not live at the address supplied and are appealing for witnesses either to the incident or on the person concerned.

If anyone has any information call Bexhill police on 0845 6070999 quoting incident number 501/22/9 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.