POLICE are looking for witnesses after a woman was threatened following a dog attack in Weston.
Erica Tijssen was walking her dog, Mulligan, along Weston's seafront on Monday, February 26 when she passed a man and his dog, thought to be a German or Belgian Shepherd.
The dog instantly attacked Mulligan, leaving him with serious injuries.
The man threatened Erica and denied that the attack ever happened.
Speaking shortly after the incident, Erica said: "There is this man on the beach, sitting against the promenade-wall, between Knightstone and the Pier. He has a German or Belgian Shepherd. He has something like a suitcase with him, looks a little unkept and plays music.
"Today around 3:30pm I walked past him with my 12-year-old dog. The moment his dog saw mine he instantly stormed towards mine, ran him into the floor, pinning him down and fully attacked him.
"My dog was on his back, yelping, unable to do anything. I ran towards them shouting, hoping the attack would stop, but it didn’t….. until the owner pulled his dog off mine. Mine was still whimpering and couldn’t get up at first. I had never seen my dog like this!
"The man told me nothing had happened and then started shouting at me that my dog had attacked his.
"He kept shouting while I walked away, making threats about what he would do if he ever saw me again. When he kept shouting I decided to call the police. I have reported the incident.
"My dog was really struggling to walk home, limping badly and after inspection at home it turned out he’s got multiple bite wounds on his belly. I disinfected everything and gave him painkillers.
"Later today my dog got worse and showed an enormous swelling in his belly. He also was in a lot of pain and we had to rush him off to the ICU to the Langford vet hospital."
Erica has since confirmed that Mulligan is still in a lot of pain, but making a slow recovery.
A police spokesperson said: "We received a report at around 4pm on Monday, February 26 after a woman was threatened by an unknown man along Weston-super-Mare's beach.
"Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and we have been speaking to the victim and reviewing CCTV footage.
"If you were walking or driving between the Grand Pier and Knightstone Island between 3.30-4pm and witnessed the incident, call 101 and quote reference 5224050387."
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