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A man has spoken out on allegations he failed to control his Staffordshire Bull Terrier before it bit another dog’s neck.

Natalie Howell-Martin and her two-year-old Beagle Collie crossbreed Dolly sustained injuries from a Terrier in Eastville Park at 1.30pm on December 19, as we reported the following day.

It gripped Dolly’s neck in its mouth for at least two minutes, causing it puncture wounds and also injuring Natalie’s hand while she and her wife Laura tried to free her dog.

The Terrier’s owner Thomas, who did not wish to give his surname, accepts that this happened.

But he also alleges Dolly was the “aggressor” and says his dog, Bear, also suffered injuries in the “fight”.

Thomas admits he ran away with Bear once the dogs were separated, but denies offering Natalie money to not call police after the incident.

Police plan to speak to the parties involved to establish if there are any offences. They are urging independent witness to get in touch.

'Absolutely dreamy'

Thomas, 29, said: “Bear is a rescue dog. He’d been in kennels for two years, pretty much his whole life.”

He adopted the dog just over a week ago and described it as “absolutely dreamy”, adding: "He's not been aggressive with anyone."

Thomas said: “I took him to Eastville Park. I took his muzzle off just while we were playing fetch.

“I had him on a long lead while we were playing, but afterwards I had him on a short one.

“I was just about to put his muzzle back on when another dog ran over and started aggressively barking at Bear.

“It started some rough and tumble with Bear, and the other dog’s muzzle came off. After that both of the dogs were in a vice-like grip of each other.”

Thomas admits the Beagle Collie’s neck was in his dog’s mouth, but he says Bear’s eyebrow was also being gripped in the other dog’s mouth.

He says he sustained nine puncture wounds to his hands by trying to remove his dog from the Beagle Collie’s grip.

'I just panicked'

Thomas said: “The two women were threatening to call the police. I did run away – I’m a new dog owner and I just panicked.

“Staffordshire Bull Terriers are vilified, and I felt panic. I just felt I needed to get him home and safe, and make sure he was OK.

“I didn’t offer to pay them to not call police before running away. I was just saying, ‘Let’s sort this out calmly and I’m happy to cover any medical costs if it is my liability.’

“I do still dispute that it is my liability.”

Thomas says Bear was left with scarring on his eyebrow and severely bruised hind legs.

“He was terrified and whimpering between my legs,” Thomas added.

The Terrier owner spent five hours in Southmead Hospital getting stitches to his hand wounds and is on a course of strong antibiotics.

He said Bear’s pre-adoption home advised him to monitor the dog, but it has not needed treatment.

Thomas said: “It’s more about how he had been making a lot of progress with his confidence, but now he’s very nervous.”

He spoke to police to give his account of events after reading the Bristol Live report on the incident.

Dolly was left with two puncture wounds in her neck, while patches of fur had been ripped off. Natalie and Laura took her to PDSA Pet Hospital on Bath Road for treatment.

What police say

An Avon and Somerset police spokeswoman said today (December 23): “A man has come forward following media and social media reports of a woman being bitten trying to separate two dogs in Eastville Park.

“The incident was reported to police at about 1.30pm on Thursday, December 19. The woman said that she was injured after her dog was attacked.

“The owner of the other dog contacted police on Saturday, December 21 and made a counter-allegation that he was also bitten and that the woman's dog was off-lead and aggressive towards his dog.

“Officers are arranging to speak to both parties to establish whether there are any offences.”

Any independent witnesses can get in touch with police through www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact or by calling 101 and quoting reference 5219292003.

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