A pensioner from Moray has described the moment she thought she was going to die following a horrific dog attack near her home.
Winnie Miller, from Deskford, was taken to hospital after a Rottweiler lunged for her neck – before pulling her to the ground.
The 75-year-old was visting her local recycling point, close to Deskford Church, with her friend Sandra on Tuesday.
Ms Miller patted the dog, which was on a lead. However, just seconds later, it lunged for her neck, forcing her to put her hand up to protect herself.
She was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin for treatment after suffering five bite marks along her arm as she defended herself.
Police have confirmed a 35-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, following the ordeal, Ms Miller believes all dogs, big or small, should be muzzled to protect people against being attacked.
‘If the dog wasn’t on a lead, I wouldn’t be here’
Reflecting back on the ordeal, Ms Miller said it all came as a “huge shock”.
She said: “I thought I was a goner, I just couldn’t think. She had the dog on a lead but if it wasn’t on a lead, I wouldn’t be here.
“It was when I put my hand up to save my neck, that’s when it just grabbed my arm and took me down to the ground.
“When it happened I was just lying on the ground, I was just in shock and said ‘Where’s the dog, where’s the dog?'”
The dog attack was reported to the local police in Moray.
The 75-year-old said the ordeal has left her shaken and unable to sleep but is striving to get back to “normal”, while supported by partner Brian Reid.
She added: “I was struggling for a few days. I couldn’t sleep.
“I’m just trying to make things as normal as I can, by having my friends up and trying to go to my groups, ever though I can’t do anything because of my arm.
“I get so weepy just thinking about it but I just think there should be more done.”
‘All dogs should have a muzzle’
Ms Miller believes all dogs should be required to wear a covering over their mouth to prevent dog attacks.
She said: “It just seems a dog has more right than a human being.
“You just have to go on the beach in Cullen and the dogs are all over the place. I know it’s fun for the dogs to run across the beach and into the water, but any dog can sniff a child.
“I just think every dog, regardless of size, should all have a protection over their mouth so they can’t bite and the big dogs should have really strong muzzles on.”
Police have confirmed a woman has been charged following the incident.
A spokesman said: “We were made aware of a 75-year-old woman with injuries as the result of a dog attack outside the community centre at Berryhillock, Deskford around 11.45am on Tuesday, 14 June.
“The woman was taken to Dr Grays Hospital, Elgin for treatment. A 35-year-old woman has been charged and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
