Man injured by Staffordshire Bull Terrier bite in Bridgwater

Paul White was walking his Border Collie near a park in Union Street when his right hand was injured by the animal, which police say is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Mr White, 50, was with his neighbour, Adrian Woodland, when the incident took place in the evening of Wednesday, October 26.

He says his hand was bitten as he tried to pull the aggressive dog away from his collie, Caspar, after it latched onto his fur.

Mr Woodland called the police after the incident, and the officers who attended took Mr White to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

He was then told he would need plastic surgery at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Mr White had an operation on Friday, October 28 that lasted four hours. He remains unable to fully use his right hand.

Police said the terrier's owner will take it to training lessons and has “agreed a written undertaking to ensure his dog was kept under control”. The force's dangerous dogs coordinator has been informed of the incident. 

Mr White and Mr Woodland believe the dog that caused the injury should have been seized from the owner's possession and tested to assess its temperament.

Police are continuing their enquiries into the incident and have encouraged witnesses to contact them. (Image: Met Police)

Mr White told the Mercury his hand was left “very sore” after his operation. 

He said: “I had a four-hour surgery on it, so they put it back together.

“I’ve got to have quite a long time in physio once it’s better. I’m going to have the stitches taken out in two weeks’ time. I’m lucky it was only that.

“What if I was a child? We’ve got lots of older people walking their dogs in that park at night.

“I’m big enough to have a bit of power to get a dog off, but what if it was a kid or a little old lady?

“It was so fast, and it did so much damage so easily. I’m so worried because of where it happened in the park.

“If it was one of the older people, I would hate to think what would have happened.”

He added: “The dog should have been taken away. A dog of that stature – I was astonished that it is still with its owner.

“It’s terrifying to think about how much worse it could have been for someone else.”

Mr Woodland, who was able to pick up his smaller dog to protect it, called 999.

Mr White was bitten by a dog, believed to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. (Image: Paul White)

He said: “It was an unprovoked attack. We were both walking past with our dogs on their leads. It came from 25 yards straight at us.

“The owners were playing with their phones with their backs to us. Then the attack happened. There was nothing we could have done – it was so fast.

“The bloke stood there, and he was scared to grab hold of his own dog, so my mate had to do it. That’s when the dog got his hand.

“The dog then grabbed Caspar’s neck. Collies have fluffy necks, which I think saved Caspar.

“The owners were getting aggressive at first with us, thinking they could shout at us, and we’d back down.

“My friend’s got a heart of gold, and he doesn’t deserve this.”

Mr Greenwood also said there were three children in the park at the time.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “Shortly before 5.50pm on Wednesday, October 26, we received a call about a dog bite incident in Union Street, Bridgwater.

“We were told a Border Collie had been attacked by a black Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the collie's owner had been bitten in his attempt to separate the animals.

“Fortunately, the collie was unharmed, however, its owner needed officers to take him to hospital.

“Later that day, we attended the home address of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier's owner and he agreed to a written undertaking to ensure his dog was kept under control.

“The owner also agreed to take the dog to training lessons upon our advice.

“The dangerous dog coordinator was subsequently informed of the incident.

“On Saturday, October 29, we received an update from the victim about his injuries and a victim statement has been taken.

“Enquiries into any offences continue and we'd be especially keen to hear from witnesses who have not yet spoken with police.

“They are asked to please contact us on 101 and give reference number 5222258037.”