A DELIVERY woman has told how she was savaged by a dog after it leapt over a fence and tore at her arm.
Sarah Bound, 39, was on her regular lunchtime delivery route for Evri in the Coytrahen area of Bridgend, South Wales, when it all “went wrong”.
She arrived at a house she had delivered to before when she heard the dog’s bark. Suddenly it had backed her into the doorway and pounced on her.
“I honestly felt like I was in a film… it was absolutely horrific and the pain was ridiculous,” she said.
Sarah said a sheep dog-like animal with wolfy features jumped the fence and cornered her in the doorway before attacking.
“The owner came around the corner because I’m assuming she heard me scream,” she said.
“As she came around she said: ‘She’s okay she won’t bite you.’ The dog did bite me a few times.
“I was stuck in the doorway while it was jumping at me and it bit me a couple of times.
“The owner then called it so it left me but tried to come back for me when the owner grabbed her.”
The horrific ordeal left her with three puncture wounds, scars and bruises.
After the attack, she was taken to hospital and given a tetanus vaccine and antibiotics.
“I’m still having shooting pain in my arms four days later and it’s still bleeding,” she said.
She added that the attack had affected her mentally and physically.
Sarah said: “It’s weird, I deal with dogs every day and I’ve never been scared of them, but now I’m not so sure, it really makes you double think.
“I’ve been thinking, what if it was a child, what if the owner didn’t appear, it’s a really bizarre situation to be in and my friends and partner tell me I don’t seem right.”
She added that she did not blame the dog or the owner but doesn’t want anyone else to go through this “horrendous experience”.
I honestly felt like I was in a film… it was absolutely horrific and the pain was ridiculous
Sarah Bound
Sarah, from Brynmenyn, Bridgend, said: “I didn’t provoke the dog. I didn’t even knock the door, but it was ready for me as soon as it saw me.
“I have delivered to the house a few times and it’s usually indoors in the window and always makes me jump when it barks and is quite aggressive through the window.”
Sarah has not heard from the owner since the attack, adding: “I don’t think that’s right. I hope that changes, because this can’t happen to anyone else.”
Sarah hopes to recover in time to celebrate her her 40th birthday next week and get back to work as soon as possible.
South Wales Police said its investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson said: “South Wales Police was called just after 1.20pm on Monday afternoon, July 15, with a report of a 39-year-old woman having been bitten by a dog on the A4063, Coytrahen, Bridgend.
“Inquiries into the incident are ongoing.”
An Evri spokesperson said: “The safety of our couriers is an absolute priority and we encourage all dog owners to secure their pet ahead of delivery, or to nominate a safe place.
“This was a very distressing incident and we will fully support Sarah as she recovers.”