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American bulldog attack: County Durham man mauled in street | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Bystanders tried to beat off two pet dogs with spades and golf clubs after they turned on their owner in a "shocking" attack in County Durham. | |
Witness Alison Metcalf said she saw the man, 47, being "ripped to bits" by the two American bulldogs at Priors Grange, High Pittington, on Sunday evening. | |
He was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. | |
One of the dogs was caught at the scene and shot by police officers. The second dog has been taken to kennels. | One of the dogs was caught at the scene and shot by police officers. The second dog has been taken to kennels. |
'Horrendous injury' | |
Ms Metcalf said: "They turned on their owner, they were dragging him around the road. | |
"They were ripping his clothes off him, biting him, they didn't appear to be aggressive they were wagging their tails and they didn't turn on anyone else. | |
"He had an horrendous arm injury, some facial injuries and I believe a leg injury. He was being ripped to bits. | |
"All the men came out with spades and golf clubs trying to get the dogs off. People even got their cars out and tried to ram the dogs with cars, but they didn't touch them. | |
"He was semi-conscious, he was obviously in a lot of pain, his arm was the worst injury I've ever seen." | |
A spokesman for Durham Police said it was "necessary for reasons of public safety" to "humanely destroy" one of the dogs after the "shocking incident". |