Teen recounts '˜devil dog' attack after church visit

A TEENAGER has told of the horrifying moment a vicious 'devil dog' attacked him moments after he left church.

Teenager Gavin Mungersdorf has recounted the 'devil dog' attack. Picture: SWNS.com

Gavin Mungersdorf, 17, was repeatedly bitten on the leg by a Staffordshire bull terrier in an apparently random attack.

He was walking home from church with a friend when the dog attacked him just before 1pm on Sunday.

DOWNLOAD THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS APP ON ITUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY

It repeatedly bit his left foot despite its owner attempting to call it back but not intervening.

Now Gavin, from Livingston, has been forced to walk with crutches as a result of his injuries.

He said: “I was walking home from church and didn’t even realise the dog was there until it bit me. It was just a totally random attack.

“The dog’s owner was only about 20 yards away but he didn’t say anything. He just called the dog back.

“The dog ran up and started biting me again, though. I was in a lot of pain. It was like one of those big devil dogs you hear about.

“When it eventually left me I shouted to the owner that he should put his dog on a leash. He just said ‘no’ and walked off.”

Gavin was left with deep cuts to his foot and leg, and the inside of his shoe was left soaking in his blood. He is still finding it difficult to walk.

He said: “My mum let me borrow crutches as at first it was a bit of a struggle to walk. I’m able to walk with one crutch now but it’s still painful.”

Gavin’s mother, Bridget, thanked the staff at the nearby Almond West service station who helped Gavin but fears for children in the area.

She added: “He got help from staff at a local garage. They have offered to allow us and the police to look at the CCTV to see if we can see the owner.

“The owner didn’t even care about what his dog did to Gavin, he just walked off.

“It’s obviously a very dangerous dog and you just fear the worst for any children that live in that area.”

Police said the dog was a black Staffordshire bull terrier and that the owner was wearing a blue hooded top with a black top and grey jogging bottoms.

Pc James Addison of Broxburn police station said: “I’m appealing to anyone who might have witnessed this, or recognises the description of the dog or its owner, to contact us.”

[email protected]