Avon and Somerset Police in Bath are trying to trace the owner of a dog that attacked a man at the Approach Golf Course, leaving him with bites to his leg that needed hospital treatment.
The 22-year-old was playing golf with two friends on Thursday Sept 20 when the attack happened at around 3.30pm.
He was looking for his ball near the seventh hole when the Staffie-type dog, which was not on a lead, ran up bit him on the calf. The dog’s owner, who was with another man and a collie-cross type dog, were sat nearby drinking cans of strong lager.
The victim, a management consultant, who does not want to be named, said: “The dog jumped up and ran straight at me growling. I was really scared and within a second the dog bit into my right calf. It was really painful. I immediately dropped my golf clubs and tried to shake the dog off whilst punching it between its eyes, but this didn’t seem to have any effect.
“The dog was shaking its head frantically and seemed to be caught up in my jogging bottoms. I managed to release its jaws, then immediately it bit me again causing me great pain.
“This incident really shook me up and I was really frightened about what damage the dog would cause to my leg. I’m also really concerned about other members of the public who may come across the dog and not be so lucky. If this dog were to attack a child in the same way it did to me I truly believe it would kill.”
Once he and the dog owners had managed finally to get the dog under control, the victim called 999 and asked for an ambulance. While he was on his mobile the men and their dogs walked off without leaving any details.
Both men are described as looking “unkempt, the street drinker homeless type.” The owner of the Staffie is white, around 5ft 10ins tall, of slim build and aged about 40. He was wearing a camel-coloured baseball cap and anorak. He had facial stubble and a gold earring.
The dog was dark brown with lighter brown speckles. It had a black nylon or canvas-type harness around its neck and upper body.
The second man is also white, 5ft 10ins tall and about 40 years old. His dog was a black and white collie-cross.
Bath PC Mark Hodder said that both men and their dogs had been seen on the golf course during the summer.
He said: “This was a worrying incident that, if it had involved a child, could have been much more serious. We want to trace these two men, and we’re also calling on members of the public to let us know if they see groups of people with dogs off their leads that are acting aggressively.”
Anyone with information about the dog attack, or who can help identify the men involved, is asked to call Bath police on 101 or via http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact/crime_reporting/
