Victim tells of dogs attack terror

Published on Friday 12 March 2010 09:28

A WOMAN who was savagely attacked by two out-of-control dogs told today how she feared they were going to maul her to death.

Kate Robertson, 47, was walking her dog Ben, a Border terrier, in woods near her home at Wallyford Bing, East Lothian, when the attack happened.

Ms Robertson was left with a black eye and a puncture wound to her neck after desperately trying to protect her six-year-old pet from the "vicious" dogs, which Ms Robertson said looked like pit bull terriers – a banned breed.

The attack has increased calls for more powers to crack down on dangerous dogs and comes in the wake of news that attacks by dogs – either on humans or on other animals – are soaring in Edinburgh. At least one violent incident is now reported every week.

Ms Robertson, a project worker for adults with learning disabilities, said she feared for her life in the attack last Thursday.

"My little dog stopped still, so I followed his line of vision and there was what looked like a pit bull terrier standing watching him," she said. "I'm only 4ft 11in, but I lifted Ben up above my head, then another 'pit bull' came. They were jumping up trying to get him and I lost my balance and fell. I was able to lie on top of Ben to protect him. I knew what they would have done to him – they would have ripped him apart."

Ms Robertson suffered two bites and scratches to her left hand, as well as several scratches to her left arm and face, and a cut lip. Ben was bitten on the tail.

She added: "I was screaming for somebody to help me and it seemed like forever before the owner came and pulled them off me. He must have seen the state of me – I was covered in blood and muck – and he just went away with the dogs, which weren't on a lead. I was traumatised and crying. I thought that was it, I thought they would have killed me."

She was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where she received a tetanus injection and antibiotics.

Ms Robertson, who has had trouble sleeping since the attack, said: "The dogs were in a frenzy. What if they do it again? It could be a kid the next time."

It emerged this week that the UK Government is proposing laws requiring all new dog owners in England and Wales to fit their pets with microchips and take out insurance to protect attack victims.

While animal campaigners in Scotland said it was not necessary to force every dog owner to take out third party insurance "as it was more likely to penalise responsible dog owners who would insure their pets anyway", they did support the microchip requirement.

A police spokesman said inquiries were ongoing into the Wallyford attack.