West Lothian man left with bite wounds from dog attack as he stopped pensioner being 'rag-dolled'

A West Lothian man was left with bite wounds from a dog attack as he stopped a pensioner being mauled by the animal.

The landscape contractor, who does not want to be named, was working on a friend’s wall outside when he heard shouts for help around the corner in Snowdrop Path, Calderwood, East Calder.

The contractor, who needed hospital treatment following the incident on Sunday morning, said when he and his friend arrived on scene the man was being “ragdolled about” by the dog, believed to be an Alsatian, which had escaped from its owner.

Speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News, the man said: “One of us shouted at the dog and it saw us and bounded towards us. We scattered and my first thought was to get the dog away from the guy.

He was left with four bite marks - three on his right forearm and one at the top of his right leg

“I was running backwards because I did not want to take my eye off it but it came straight to me. I put my arms up to protect myself as I did not want it on my face or neck, and it jumped up and bit my forearm.

“It all happened that fast, in a matter of seconds, and I just kept backing off until it stopped. I think the owner and one of their neighbours then managed to grab it and get it on a leash.

“The older guy was really shaken and was still coming to terms with what had happened when I spoke to him. He told me he did not know when it would stop.”

After the incident, the contractor drove up to St John’s Hospital in Livingston where a doctor used Steri-Strips to close the wound and bandaged his arm.

He was left with four bite marks - three on his right forearm and one at the top of his right leg - and said the older man’s head was bleeding.

The contractor, who suffered the injuries despite wearing four layers of clothing including a yellow work jacket, continued: “Whoever walked round that corner next would have been getting it, whether it was a kid or a cat.”

It is understood the pensioner who was first attacked had been delivering bread to a neighbour at the time.

Fear of further attacks

The contractor’s friend said he later discussed the incident with the dog’s owner who said they would give their pet extra training, ensure a muzzle is worn and that it would only be walked late at night or early morning.

But the father of two fears the dog escaping again without a muzzle and that a child could be hurt.

He said: “I don’t want to live the next 10 years with a thought in the back of my head that my kids can not cycle around that street because a door could be left open and the dog could get out.”

He also described his pal as a “hero” for intervening on Sunday and “putting his body on the line.”

A police spokesperson said: "Police Scotland received a report of an incident involving a dog at Snowdrop Path in Livingston on Sunday 22 November. Enquiries are continuing."

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said they are aware of the concerns and that the matter has been passed to Police Scotland at this point.

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