Man hospitalised in horrific dog attack

Jonathan Rudge-Priestley, of Pudsey, Leeds, was trying to defend his own dog Pippin from the animal when it turned on him, leaving him covered in blood with gaping bites to his hand and arm.

Mr Rudge-Priestley said the dog’s owner ran to the scene on Hough Top playing fields and began kicking his pet in an effort to stop the attack.

But when he finally managed to tear the animal away, he then fled the scene imploring a shocked and bleeding Mr Rudge-Priestley not to report the incident.

Jet2 worker Mr Rudge-Priestley said: “I was out walking my two dogs and it was quite dark so I couldn’t see a lot.

“Then all of a sudden another dog charged up and latched onto Pippin. The owner ran up and tried to get it off but it wouldn’t let go.

“When it finally did let go of Pippin, it grabbed my arm and I could feel this intense stabbing pain.

“It probably only went on for a minute but it felt like hours.”

Mr Rudge-Priestley and the owner managed to wrestle the dog - thought to be a Staffordshire bull terrier - away before the dog’s owner fled the scene.

The 33-year-old added: “I thought about going after him but there was blood all over my arm and Pippin was injured. It was dangerous- I walk my dogs but I know when to put them on a lead.”

Pippin, a 10-and-a-half year old Basenji, needed £500 worth of veterinary care and is now recovering at home with his owner’s other dog Bliss.

Mr Rudge-Priestley spent a night in hospital following the incident which happened at around 10pm on August 14.

He has reported the attack to police.