Dog attack leaves woman with multiple wounds

Warning: graphic content

A woman was left needing hospital treatment for numerous wounds after being attacked by a dog just 50 metres from her home.

Pat Pope said the attack happened as she took a shortcut to her home in the village of Ramsbury in Wiltshire, with the dog attacking her "in seconds" and "biting everywhere".

The BBC understands that the dog had been involved in less serious incidents previously, with the owner required to complete a responsible dog ownership course.

Wiltshire Police said the animal was seized and is now in police kennels, and the force is now working closely with Mrs Pope.

"As I came into the park, the person tried to put the lead round its neck, but it didn't want to have it's lead on," she said.

"The person said 'don't worry because you're woman it won't harm you'."

However, the dog quickly started biting Mrs Pope and she tried to fight it off, asking the owner to get it off her as it bit her.

"Eventually I got myself through the gate, turned around said said 'what's your name'? They didn't give me a name they just kept saying they were really sorry," she added.

"I thought I can't wait for this - I've just got to get home."

Together with her husband she cleaned her wounds and tried to stem the blood flow.

The couple took photographs, rang the police and wrapped the wounds in clingfilm to keep everything in place as they drove to A&E.

Pictures - most of which are too graphic to publish - show a hole in her arm almost down to the bone and deep punctures on her legs, arms and hands.

"I looked at my arm and there was just a flap and I just picked the flap up with my right hand and just popped it over the hole and tried to hold it on," said Mrs Pope.

She said adrenaline set in as she did not feel any pain at first and will find out this week from a specialist if she needs any more medical treatment.

Mrs Pope said she had never come across the dog before, but said the local community had been very supportive.

"If it was a younger person, it would have been horrendous," she added.

Wiltshire Police said the incident was reported on 1 May by both the dog owner and Mrs Pope, with the dog seized the day after.

Devizes NPT Inspector Simon Garrett said: "We appreciate the victim's frustration following this horrendous ordeal for her, and we have since visited her to apologise, answer her questions and provide an update on the investigation.

"We are working closely with the victim and her family to ensure she receives an excellent level of support and involvement in the investigation moving forwards."

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.