Dog attacked me on my first day (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Dog attacked me on my first day

Shellie Kerr pictured with her one year old son Cody Picture Ref: 99835-65AN ANIMAL lover who was attacked by a dog in a Swindon pub is calling for the animal to be destroyed.

Shellie Kerr, 24, went into one of the back rooms of the Sun Inn, Lydiard Millicent, to pick up her handbag when she was "savaged" by the owner's pet.

Shellie, of Penhill, who has a six-month-old son, faces plastic surgery to treat the injuries to her breast and arm.

She now wants to warn others about what the dog is capable of.

"I have three dogs of my own and if any of them attacked, even without drawing blood I would have them put down.

"I just keep think-ing if it had been my four-year-old daughter she would have been killed."

The attack happened on Thursday during Miss Kerr's first night behind the bar at the pub.

She claimed she had been told the dog barked a lot but that it was harmless.

Halfway through her shift she asked landlady, Cerian Cornel, if she could go for a break.

"She said that was fine so I asked her where my handbag had been put and she pointed to a door and said it was through there," said the mum-of-two.

"I went in, picked up my bag and then I saw the dog at the bottom of the stairs."

Shellie said the animal, which she believes is a Japanese Akita fighting dog, came up to her and sniffed her before attacking her. "It just went absolutely ballistic," she said.

"It grabbed hold of my arm and was shaking me all over the place."

She said it was only after the attack was over that other staff came to her aid.

"They leant me over the sink but I felt really faint and just wanted to get to the hospital.

"They cut my white shirt off me, which was soaked in blood and it was then they saw how badly damaged by breast was.

"The skin had been ripped away and I could see the veins."

She added she felt "disgusted" that no-one at the pub called for an ambulance. She is no longer working at the pub.

The attack has left her unable to breast-feed her son and facing the prospect of plastic surgery to repair the damage in a year's time.

Cricklade police confirmed they had received a report about the incident and were investigating.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "I know about the dog in question and it's a little bit feisty to say the least."

Mrs Cornel said she did not wish to comment on the incident while it was being investigated by the police but thought Miss Kerr may have entered a private part of the pub.

She said: "The company and myself believe that Shellie was in an area of the pub she should not have been in."

In response to Mrs Cornel's comment Shellie said: "When I asked where my bag was she just pointed to the door and said through there.

"I was never under the impression that I wasn't to go in the room alone or that I needed to wait for her."

Akita breed is intelligent and courageous

THE Japanese Akita is the largest of all the Japanese breeds of dog and were originally bred in the province of Akita during the 17th century.

Some people believe they were bred for hunting animals such as wild boar, deer and black bears, while others claim they were bred for pit fighting. In the late 19th century, because of the popularity of breeds like German shepherds, the Society for the preservation of Japanese dogs was formed to preserve native breeds.

They are described as an intelligent and courageous breed, that is slightly reserved even towards its owner.

One breeder's directory also said they are also capable of ferocity, but with a firm hand can make a fine pet.

They recommend that puppies must be extremely well socialised with people so they do not develop into untrustworthy dogs who may acquire a streak of viciousness.

Stephanie Tye