Carol came home from work early last night and wanted to go for a walk in the nice weather before dinner. We were on our way back, and to get back home we had to walk up an embankment then across an open public field, (the kind where kids play football, people walk dogs etc.). So we climbed up the embankment and emerged through the gap in the hedge to the field.
I noticed a dog running up from the right hand side. I get this all the time, I walk through that field every day and Dogs are always coming up to have a sniff or a bit of a bark. Don't ask me how, but I sensed there was something wrong and I called to Carol (who was holding my hand on my left) to look out, she started to run, but worried the dog might turn it's attention to her I pulled her back next to me and turned away from the dog as it jumped. Next thing I knew it had gone at my leg ripping a huge hole in my jeans (bobson would be proud :-D) and bitten my left thigh.
It ran off, only to come back again. Carol was really scared, she'd had a bad experience with a dog as a kid. There was very little I could do, I was clutching my bleeding leg. Carol kicked out at it and it ran off again. We could see the owner by this point and were desperately calling to her to control her dog, but she just seemingly ignored us and strolled over.
By this time it was running at us for a 3rd time. Carol fell backwards trying to get away, and I had to move in front to stop it jumping on her. Luckily it's attention moved to another dog and it ran off again. By this point the owner had actually got within talking distance. She asked what was wrong!!!!! Suspending disbelief, we pointed out the ripped clothing and blood. "Oh I can't believe he done that, he's a very friendly dog". Carol went nuts at her, pointing out the playing children. "Oh their my children they're safe with Scooby" (Of all the names, I get attacked by a bloody 'Scooby'! :-o).
Then came the real bombshell, continuing to speak in a totally blasé, couldn't-give-a-damn tone, "...he's only ever done it once before...". This woman had no idea of responsibility! In the mean-time she still failed (barely attempting) to gain control of the dog, and sent her young son of about 8 or 9 to get him under control.
Because it was only a leisurely walk we were on, we didn't have phones, or any way of taking this woman's details. It was obvious she couldn't care less. She hadn't even apologised once. :-o My leg was really sore and bleeding quite a bit and need to be sorted out so we left her and I limped back home.
Cutting a long story short (well not really), The rest of the evening was spent down A+E (ER for the American contingent) and then getting the prescription. Got back in time to have some dinner, watch a bit of TV and go to bed. Fortunately, once cleaned up and the bleeding had slowed down, the bite didn't look as bad as I first thought, and is just very sore now. I'll live :-)
