Lauren’s dog attack horror

HORRIFIC . . . Lauren’s injuries will leave permanent scars

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Hunt for owner who fled park
THE parents of a teenage girl who was savaged by a bull terrier in Alexandra Park are urging the dog’s owner to come forward.

Lauren Heffron (14), of Wallace Street, Hathershaw, has been warned she will be permanently scarred after the attack on Sunday afternoon.

She was walking her two dogs in the park when she saw a man coming towards her with his dog near the boating lake.

His dog was off its lead and came bounding towards her but the owner told her not to worry as it wouldn’t bite her.

Seconds later, the brown, stocky dog, called Nemo, sank its teeth into Lauren’s lower leg leaving her with four deep puncture wounds.

The man shouted at his dog to get off her but when he saw the extent of her injuries he left without offering any help.

A park security guard gave Lauren first aid until her parents, David and Joanne, arrived.

Lauren required hospital treatment and is off school this week as she can’t walk.

Doctors have prescribed a course of antibiotics to prevent infection and have told her that the puncture wounds will leave permanent scars.

Mrs Heffron said: “We are absolutely fuming that this man had his dog off the lead as there are signs all over the park telling dog owners to keep their animals on the lead.

“We can’t help thinking that it could have been much worse. The park was really busy as it was a sunny day and if it had been a smaller child, the dog could have got them by the throat and killed them.

“I’m disgusted that the owner just ran away after his animal injured Lauren like that. We have reported the matter to police but I doubt anything will happen.

“Lauren takes our two dogs to Alexandra Park every day and she’s never had any problems like this before.

“She is a really confident girl but this has left her extremely shaken and it will take her a long time to recover.”

The bull terrier’s owner is described as a tall Asian male in his late 20s or early 30s with a stocky build. He was wearing a white t-shirt, a baseball cap and sunglasses. The dog is brown and the man was calling him Nemo.

Mr Heffron said: “We want this man to come forward or for the police to catch him because if he keeps going to the park and letting his dog off the lead like he did on Sunday the consequences could be much worse next time.”

Police confirmed they have been notified about the incident and anyone with information about the incident can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.