The stress of being attacked by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier has taken it's toll on a registered blind woman from Yeading.
Jennifer Ridout, who needs a guide dog to assist her, was shopping in Hayes town centre when she was “knocked flying flat on her face” by the dog which she described as aggressive.
She said: “He came like a bullet out of a gun, he got hold of my guide dog's back legs and pulled the flesh away.”
Her guide dog, a Labrador-retreiver cross called Toby, is her “lifeline” and cost the Guide Dogs charity around £50,000 to train and keep.
She added: "My dog screamed out in pain. I've never heard a dog scream before and then everybody was saying: 'Look at the dog!'
"I was sitting on the floor by this time and he put his paws around my neck and buried his head around my chin and was whimpering."
"Luckily, a man got [the other dog] off quick enough. The dog just pulled his flesh up high, it's me that was hurt more. I don't know whether I was bitten, my leg hurt and I've got a hole in my leg which bled a lot."
Ms Ridout said she has been attacked three times, and this is the second time the perpetrator has been a staffy.
Police were called to the scene following the attack but, by the time they had arrived to Pump Lane, the young man - described as wearing a hooded jumper - who was seen with the dog had fled.
Ms Ridout says the stress of the incident has taken it's toll on her and has put her off going into Hayes town centre altogether.
She said: “I can't go back while there are staffies on the loose.
“I was really shaken up. I had to go to casualty and now I'm on a very high dosage of antibiotics for a fortnight and painkillers.
"It's hurt my finger, my wrist, my elbow and shoulder all on my right side. The doctor reckons I might have fractured a rib."
Around 20-30 people surrounded Ms Ridout at the time of the incident – around 1pm on Friday August 7.
Ms Ridout added: “I would like to say thank you to those who helped and ask anyone if they know the owner of this dog to please come forward because it could kill a child.
“I went down like a tonne of bricks but a child wouldn't have stood any chance, it could have been killed.”
