[nagdu] Scotland: Trainer mauled trying to protect her guide dog

[Ginger Kutsch]

Scotland: Trainer mauled trying to protect her guide dog 

05 October 2011 

By DAVID McCANN 

 

 

A GUIDE dog instructor was mauled by a bull terrier after stepping in to
protect her trainee pup in the city centre.

 

Trainer Jayne Brown, 29, sustained heavy bruising to her right leg in the
shock attack on Nicolson Street last month and credits the thick jeans she
was wearing for preventing more serious injury.

 

She shielded the 17-month-old animal - that had be

ADVERTISEMENT en undergoing guide dog training - after the terrier shot out
from beneath a blanket occupied by a homeless girl outside a Tesco Metro.

 

Ms Brown instinctively manoeuvred the dog out behind her and the
"Staffy-type" breed latched onto her leg as she buffered the attack which
lasted only a few seconds.

 

"We were walking past a homeless girl sitting on a blanket when the dog just
flew out to try to bite my training dog Les, but instead made contact with
my leg," said the trainer, who has worked with the Guide Dogs Association
for the Blind since 2006.

 

"The girl pulled the dog away and managed to get it under control. The whole
thing was totally unprovoked, but the dog wasn't on a lead, and she didn't
manage to keep hold of it. 

 

"Luckily I was wearing thick jeans and dropped the harness so the dog was
able to move out of the way. If a small child had been in between us when it
happen the consequences don't even bear thinking about."

 

"I was very shaken after the attack, and Les has shown apprehension passing
other dogs now. Before he was absolutely fine but now is hesitant and needs
support to get past them."

 

Ms Brown revealed that it costs her association £50,000 to train a guide dog
and one traumatic attack can drain confidence to such an extent that they
are incapable of working.

 

Yesterday, the News told how a guide dog was attacked by a bull terrier
while escorting her owner in Leith. The animal suffered puncture wounds to
its neck and chest in the horrifying ordeal, on August 30, which lasted
around five minutes.

 

This latest incident, which took place on September 15, was the second in as
many weeks in Edinburgh alone.

 

A police spokesman said: "Officers are following a positive line of inquiry
to identify the owner of the dog."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Last Updated: 05 October 2011 10:38 AM 

Source: Edinburgh Evening News 

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Trainer-mauled-trying-to-protect.6848005.j
p

Location: Edinburgh