Female jogger savaged by pit bull in North Cork

A WOMAN may lose the top of one of her fingers after a savage mauling by a pit bull terrier at the weekend.

The animal has been destroyed since the terrifying attack in north Cork on Saturday.

The 27-year-old woman was jogging alone in the Cloonbannin townland, just off the N72 Mallow to Killarney Road, and had just run past a house when the pit bull launched its unprovoked attack.

It locked on to her and bit her several times causing severe lacerations and deep wounds to her fingers, hands and arms.

She fought desperately, beating and kicking the animal in a frantic effort to get it off but still it continued its attack.

Luckily, a motorist arrived on the scene and produced a golf club from the boot of his car. He had to strike the animal several times with the club before it broke off its attack.

The gardaí and emergency services were alerted and the woman was rushed, bleeding profusely and in a state of shock to Cork University Hospital.

She underwent emergency surgery to repair the damage and she remained in hospital on Saturday night. She was discharged yesterday and will need further plastic surgery. There are also fears that she may lose the tip of one of her fingers.

Gardaí in Kanturk launched an immediate investigation into the incident and interviewed the dog’s owners.

The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 impose additional rules on the owners of so-called dangerous breed dogs.

Dog owners are liable for injury or damage caused by their dog to people or livestock.