South Shields dog owner left traumatised after husky launches attack on her pet

Janice Graney, 50, was walking her cocker spaniel Alfie along the old railway line between Boldon and South Shields on March 10, when the husky lunged at Alfie.

The unprovoked attack left the little dog needing treatment for his injuries and Janice with a cut to her hand.

Janice, and her partner Ian Scott, from Redberry Way, South Shields, are now appealing for the owner of the husky to contact police.

Mr Scott, 61, a full-time foster carer, said his partner has been left so shaken by the incident that she has had to give up work.

He said: “She is traumatised. We foster two children long term and if they had been there God knows what would have happened.

“My partner intervened to stop the dog lunging at Alfie and she injured her hand.

“We have been walking our dog along the old train lines for years, but on this particular day there was nobody else around.

“She rang me and when I found her she was covered in blood and the dog could barely walk.
“Janice said that the woman who owned the husky got the lead on her dog and ran off.

“I don’t know how anybody could leave someone in the state that they were in.”

Janice needed treatment at South Tyneside District Hospital to have stitches in her hand, while Alfie had to spend a week in at a specialist vets where he underwent treatment costing around £4,500 following the attack.

Since then Janice, who suffered from anxiety and depression before the incident, has given up her job at the Barbour Factory.

Mr Scott added: “It has mentally affected her and she is not going back to work.

“She was off sick before with anxiety and intended to go back, but since the incident she as had trouble sleeping as she is replaying the scenario in her head.

“We are not blaming the dog, even though he did it, our issue is with the owner as she had not controlled it. We want to person to be found and prosecuted.

“Alfie had to have two operations and when he was having his second operation doctors told us that he might not make it.”

Police say Janice suffered a hand injury as she tired to intervene to save Alfie, but that she wasn’t actually attacked by the dog.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “Police received a report that a black Cocker Spaniel had been attacked by a husky as they were being walked along the old railway line between Boldon and South Shields.

“It is not believed that any criminal offence has taken place although police would encourage the owner of the husky to get in touch on 101 quoting log 1021 04/04/18 to establish the circumstances behind the incident.”