Key Takeaways
- A 16-year-old schoolgirl, Kerris Gledhill, was attacked by a suspected XL Bully dog in the street while walking her miniature dachshund.
- The dog latched onto Kerris’ leg and sank its teeth into her skin, causing severe injuries and trauma.
- Kerris underwent surgery and is currently recovering, but the attack has left her with physical and emotional scars, including panic attacks and a loss of feeling in her thigh.
- The dog has been seized by Merseyside Police and is awaiting assessment, with enquiries ongoing and no arrests made at this time.
Introduction to the Incident
A terrifying incident occurred on November 25, when a schoolgirl named Kerris Gledhill was attacked by a vicious dog in the street. The 16-year-old was walking her miniature dachshund, Mr. Otis, home from a walk at Croxteth Park when the suspected XL Bully dog came charging down Beversbrook Road in Norris Green and attacked. Kerris recalled the incident, stating that she is now "traumatised" and has undergone surgery to repair the damage caused by the dog’s bite.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
Kerris explained that she had been walking with her headphones on when she noticed the dog in the middle of the street. She took her headphones off and locked eyes with the dog, which was jumping on people’s fences. A little boy, no older than 11, came out of a house to try and get the dog back in, but it listened to him only until it was halfway across the road, at which point it came running at Kerris and Mr. Otis. The dog picked up Mr. Otis by his harness and shook him, and Kerris managed to get the lead and snap it, shooting her dog behind her and hiding him under a car. However, the dog then latched onto Kerris’ leg, causing severe pain and trauma.
Kerris’ Experience and Injuries
Kerris recalled feeling pain as the dog’s teeth sank deeper into her leg, stating that it was a blur and that she just remembered screaming and grabbing hold of her leg. The dog was shaking her like a toy, and then it was pulling on her leg, feeling like it was pulling something out of her leg. Kerris screamed for help, and eventually, the dog let go of her leg. She fell to the ground and was unable to respond to people asking if she was okay. She picked up Mr. Otis and pulled herself along the railings to try and get away and ring her mum. Kerris’ mum, Demi-Lee Gledhill, described the phone call as the "worst" thing she’d ever received, with Kerris screaming down the phone, shouting "mum, mum, mum, I’ve been attacked by a dog."
The Response and Investigation
Demi-Lee Gledhill got in her car and drove to her daughter, who was lying on the floor, "lifeless," when she got to her. She scooped her daughter up off the floor and put her into the car with Mr. Otis, taking Kerris straight to her mum’s house and phoning the police. Kerris’ nan checked her granddaughter’s wound and, after seeing the amount of blood, screamed for Demi to take her straight to Aintree Hospital. Kerris underwent surgery on November 27 and is currently recovering. Merseyside Police confirmed that a dog has been seized following the attack and is awaiting assessment, with enquiries ongoing and no arrests made at this time.
The Long-Term Effects of the Attack
Following a check-up at the hospital, Demi said her daughter’s injuries are "healing well," but there is "excess damage" to her thigh. Kerris is very sore, but thankfully, there is no infection. The attack has left a dent in her leg, and she has lost feeling in her thigh. Kerris stated that she is an animal lover and has never been scared of animals, but now she has panic attacks when she hears a bark, and her dog is on edge. The incident has had a profound impact on Kerris’ life, causing both physical and emotional scars that will take time to heal.