Police to look into attack on owner and her dog

gwarren@thekmgroup.co.uk Police are now investigating a dog attack which left a woman badly mauled.

Jane Martin was injured as she tried to protect her collie from three dogs on a public footpath across farmland at Bridge.

She was left with blood pouring from her hands and needed hospital treatment for the puncture wounds.

Her dog Ben was also badly bitten and had to have his injuries stitched by a vet.

But the 46-year-old motherof- two was angry police were initially dismissive of her complaint, which they classed as a dog- on- dog attack on private land.

That was despite the same dogs having previously attacked a pensioner’s cocker spaniel, which later died, on the same path.

The dogs are owned by the farm foreman at Middle Pett Farm, David Stanbury, who has made a counter allegation that Mrs Martin’s collie bit him. He did not wish to comment further on the inci- dent. Mrs Martin has always insisted her dog was on a lead and they were attacked on the footpath, although the ensuing struggle spilled into the orchard and Ben slipped his collar.

Now police officers have returned to her home in Union Road, Bridge, to take a formal statement from her and copies of the pictures of her injuries – which they did not do first time.

Mrs Martin, who is currently off work from her job as a quality assurance auditor for the Health Research Authority, said: “I am glad the police are now taking it seriously.

“I didn’t speak to the Kentish Gazette to court publicity, but because I was anxious that someone else would be hurt or worse.

“I have been overwhelmed by the support I’ve received and can’t help thinking the publicity has made the police reconsider the case, although they deny that.”

The story was also widely read on our website kentonline. co. uk and prompted nearly 70 comments.

Jane Martin with her collie Ben who were both badly mauled in the attack. Above, her bloodstained right hand