Owner says Bedhampton dog attack which left her ‘terrified to leave the house’ was dealt with poorly by police who ‘laughed and joked’ on the scene

Owner Beverley Chapman, 58, was injured as she struggled to pull an English bull terrier off her beloved pet Hannah during the incident on Littlepark Avenue on March 20.

While out for a walk at about 4pm, Hannah, who was on a lead, barked at another dog who was running free.

Beverley, who lives in Bedhampton with her partner, said: ‘The dog made a serious attack on Hannah, running across the road to bite her neck.

‘The dog ripped her throat apart.’

Several nearby people came to Hannah’s aid, and both Beverley and another woman who stepped in to help loosen the dog’s grip on Hannah’s neck received bites to their hands.

Beverley said: ‘We could hardly restrain this bull terrier.’

The owner of the terrier arrived at the scene on Littlepark Avenue while driving around trying to find the dog.

Luckily, Hannah has recovered after having surgery at St Peter's Vets in Farlington.

Beverley says that she was shocked by the behaviour of the police’s dog handler when they arrived.

She said: ‘I watched as the dog handler laughed and joked with the owner.

‘The police dog handler comforted the owner telling her not to worry as accidents happen, whilst I sat in a police car with a dog bleeding from its neck, myself with a bitten hand and arm.

‘Nobody from the police spoke to me - I have had no duty of care as a victim. I was made to feel like a perpetrator.

‘I was begging and crying to be taken home.

‘I took Hannah to the vet, but medical attention was delayed because of the police’s actions.’

The dog was allowed to leave, and police deemed it fit to live with other dogs and children.

Beverley said: ‘The dog handler concluded the investigation without even speaking to me, it’s very bizarre.

‘The police want a community resolution order but I don’t want to do this.’

Beverley says that she is now ‘incredibly nervous’ and has been prescribed sleeping tablets.

She said: ‘It was a horrific attack, I’m a nervous wreck.

‘As a victim, I am now terrified to leave my house to walk.

‘I can’t sleep, I wake up in the night with my heart pounding.’

Hannah, a rescue dog from Ireland, has been with the family for nine years.

Beverley said: ‘Hannah is very subdued. She’s an old lady and she’s only been out for about 10 minutes since it happened.’

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: ‘We were called shortly after 4pm on Saturday, March 20 to a report that two women had been bitten by a dog on Littlepark Avenue.

‘Officers attended and spoke to those involved. A woman in her 50s went to hospital with minor injuries.

‘The incident is currently under investigation.’

Beverley added: ‘I have made a complaint about the officer concerned and taken civil action against the owners.’