The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Terrifying dog attack shocks park visitor
APerthshire man has relived the terrifying moment he looked up into the snarling mouth of a dog seconds before it sank its teeth into his face.
Sandy Brown, 63, said all he could see were the dog’s teeth bearing down on him before it bit him.
Farmworker Sandy was left with blood gushing from deep cuts to his nose and chin and fears he could be scarred for life.
The Meigle man has since had four thread stitches applied and “heaps” of butterfly stitches.
The attack happened in Meigle Victory Park, also know locally as Belmont Park, off Ardler Road just after 6pm on Wednesday when Sandy was out walking a friend’s dog.
He said he was putting a juice can in the bin when he tripped over his lace, which was undone, and fell to the ground.
Sandy said: “I heard a noise in the bushes and the next thing this dog was heading for me with its teeth bared. All I saw were its teeth coming towards me.
“It sank its teeth into my face and then took off. It all happened so quickly I didn’t even get a chance to see what kind of dog it was, although it looked pretty stocky and black and white. I reckon it was around the size of a collie.”
Sandy said he had no idea if anyone had been with the dog or if it was out on its own.
He said he raced home after the attack with blood pouring everywhere.
“When I looked in the mirror I was horrified at what I saw,” he said.
“I had to go and sit down for around 15 minutes just to calm myself down.
“It was awful. I think I was in shock at that point. I just sat for a bit before I phoned my girlfriend and we went to Perth Royal Infirmary.”
At the hospital Sandy had his wounds cleaned and stitched. He was also given a tetanus injection.
He said: “My face is a real mess and now it is really badly swollen as well.
“It was bad enough that I was bitten but I dread to think what would have happened if the dog had attacked a child.
“That could have ended up really serious. I have reported the matter to the police.
“I don’t want this dog to attack anyone else.”
A police spokesman said they were aware of the incident and that inquiries were ongoing.