I’m scarred for life after dog attack on c2c train (From Echo)

I’m scarred for life after dog attack on c2c train

8:00am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in News

Action call – Amanda Collins, who was attacked by a rottweiler on a late-night train

A WOMAN has recalled how she was viciously attacked by a rottweiler on a train, leaving her scarred for life.

Amanda Collins, 38, wants all dogs to be registered to prevent anyone else suffering the same ordeal.

She was on her way back from a Stereophonics gig when she got on to a train at Fenchurch Street station.

She made her way down to use the toilet, only to spot a dog sitting between the legs of his owner, who was asleep.

Thinking better of the situation, she tried to slowly turn back, but the dog leapt up and bit into her left arm.

Before it could clamp on, the animal lost its grip on her arm as she turned away, and then it began barking at her.

The commotion eventually woke up the dog’s owner, who asked Mrs Collins what she had done to his dog.

Eventually, he realised the dog had bitten her, and apologised.

Mrs Collins, who owns the Fishmarket restaurant in Benfleet High Street, said: “I’ve heard of rottweilers having to have their jaws prised apart with a crowbar after they’ve bitten.

“I was lucky I didn’t lose an arm. But just imagine if it had been a kid who got on that train.”

She went straight to Accident and Emergency where she had a tetanus injection and the wound was patched up.

Mrs Collins said she has grown up with rottweilers, so knows how they should be handled.

She believes the dog was simply trying to protect his owner, because he was asleep and someone was approaching.

She said: “I have never been scared of dogs.

“Rottweilers are great dogs. They are lovely pets, but they need the right handling.

“They are guard dogs. That’s what’s in them.”

She believes all rottweilers should be muzzled when in public, and owners of all dogs should be part of a register.

Mrs Collins, who lives in Thundersley, said: “There should definitely be some sort of register or licensing, because anyone genuine who really cared or loved dogs would be happy to register or get a licence.”

l Marc Denniss, 36, of Fielding Avenue, Tilbury, admitted having a dog dangerously out of control at Fenchurch Street Station on December 19.

He also admitted it had been dangerously out of control again on January 5 at Chalkwell railway station and using threatening behaviour on that day.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and banned from owning a dog for five years.

He must also pay £100 compensation to Mrs Collins, which will be deducted from his benefits.