A 19-YEAR-OLD girl was left covered in blood and screaming in agony after a dog ripped open her arm in a terrifying attack.
Eden Moss, 19, suffered horrific puncture wounds after the hound pounced in Park End, Middlesbrough, on Tuesday.
FacebookEden Moss suffered horrific injuries in a dog attack[/caption]
FacebookThe 19-year-old saw her arm torn open[/caption]
Eden was left screaming in agony following the attackFacebook/ Nat Moss
The clinical support worker was walking her Labrador-cross, Charlie, with her partner Rhys Readman when the nightmare unfolded near James Cook University Hospital.
A couple strolling in the opposite direction had a dog off its lead -described by Eden’s family as a grey Visla or similar breed.
But the dog then charged at Charlie, who was on a lead, snarling wildly.
As Eden bravely stepped in to protect her pup, the powerful hound lunged, sinking its teeth into her forearm and shaking her around.
She screamed for help and a couple, who had a child in a pram with them, grabbed the dog away before reportedly heading in the other direction.
Eden was rushed to A&E for treatment, and urgently given antibiotics and injections.
But medics have been unable to stitch close the wound due to the risk of bacteria.
Following the Tuesday evening attack, Eden has been in severe pain and had to return to hospital after one of the wounds wouldn’t stop bleeding.
Medics told Eden the wound was deep and could have been a lot worse if it had cut into an artery.
Speaking to Teesside Live, Eden said: “I just can’t get it out my head. When [the medic] was cleaning it I looked and went all faint.
“She said all the colour had gone in my face and I felt like I was seconds away from fainting. I had a drink and it helped, I felt like I was going to be sick.”
“I can’t even hold my phone in my hand anymore. I can’t pick anything up.
“I can’t put my arm in my sleeve it’s that painful. I’m going to be really cautious being around dogs now, it’s put that fear right through me that it’s going to happen again.”
Eden’s family have reported the incident to Cleveland Police.
Now, her family are appealing for information, fearing the dog could strike again.
Her terrified mum, Nat Moss added: “She was covered in blood and they did nothing to try and help her.
“This dog has just attacked a person and they have a child in a pram with them. It is worrying that someone else, or even a child, could be injured.
Dog attacks in the UK
Police forces recorded 30,539 offences of a dog injuring a person or guide dog in 2023 a 21 per cent rise on the previous year, when 25,291 were logged.
In 2024, the figure rose again to 32,568 – a 4 per cent increase.
According to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, there were 16 deaths due to dog attacks in 2023, a sharp rise from preceding years where the number had been in single figures.
Between 2021 and 2023, around half of fatal dog attacks were caused by a single breed, the American XL Bully.
In December 2023, it was the first breed to be added to the Dangerous Dogs Act act since 1991, making it illegal into sell, breed, abandon, or give away an XL Bully.
“She has been very lucky really. It could have been her face or her neck or it could have been an artery in her arm – it just doesn’t bear thinking about.”
A spokesperson for Cleveland Police confirmed: “[We] received a report that a dog had bitten a 19-year-old woman on the arm as she walked her dog near the blue bridge next to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, on the evening of Tuesday May 6.
“The report was made to police on Wednesday May 7, and the woman had received hospital treatment for her injury.
“The dog is described as a large grey dog, possibly a Rhodesian Ridgeback or Visla wearing a collar.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
Blue bridge near Linby Avenue, Park End, near to where the attack happened Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
