A man needs surgery after an XL bully-type dog attacked him in a Cornwall street. The man, in his 70s, was seriously injured during the attack near his Penzance home at the weekend.
It happened between 7pm and 8pm on Sunday (December 17) as he walked his own dog in the area of Castle Road. He was approached by a large, brown bulldog that was not on lead and attacked him causing serious damage to his arm.
A witness described seeing the man on the ground clutching his arm but the owner and the attacking dog left the scene on foot and have not been identified since. The victim was hospitalised with family members saying he required surgery. His own dog however, survived the attack and is doing fine.
Police are now appealing for information to identify the owner of the dog and anyone who witnessed the incident. A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Officers investigating a report of a dog attack in Penzance are appealing for witnesses and information.
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"It was reported that the incident occurred between 7pm and 8pm on Sunday 17 December in the area of Castle Road. The victim, a man in his 70s, was walking his dog, when a dog described as a large, chestnut brown bulldog, that was not on a lead, attacked him to the arm causing serious injury.
"He required hospital treatment. It’s believed the owner took hold of the dog and left on foot.
"We’re appealing for any information to help us identify the owner of the dog and anyone who witnessed the incident and hasn’t yet spoken to police. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 50230327625."
Family members took to social media saying the dog was described as XL bully type. The victim's step daughter shared an appeal to Facebook urging people to "be careful" in Penzance and to come forward if they know who the dog owner is.
"This is not a dig about breeds, it's about a dangerous dog," she said. "My step dad is badly hurt and this could have been so much worse."
