A GIRL has told of her horror after being viciously mauled by an English Bulldog which ripped out chunks of her leg.
And Crystal Bates was even more horrified on hearing the dog owner’s reaction.
The teen was attacked by her friend’s English Bulldog and left in hospital for nine daysMirrorpix
Crystal – aged just 17 at the time – was told the crazy mutt would be set loose on her again if she went to the police, as she sat bleeding in her friend’s house.
The girl, from Daventry, Northamptonshire had been visiting her pal when their family dog launched its brutal attack – which left Crystal in hospital for nine days.
Now 22-years-old, the survivor says she still suffers physically and mentally.
She told The Mirror she believed the owners knew there was a problem with their pet, as two stair gates were installed at the door.
“I walked in and turned round to shut the door behind me and as I turned back the dog had got hold of my leg and wouldn’t let go,” said Crystal.
“I don’t think anyone knew what to do.
“I can remember my friend’s mum trying to get the dog off me. There was no way he was getting off. He did lock his jaw.
“But luckily, in the end, I think my friend’s mum had to put her hand into the dog’s mouth and pry the jaw open.”
High on adrenaline following to horrific attack, Crystal was unaware of how bad her injuries were.
But she claimed her mate’s stepdad forced her out into the garden – and refused her an ambulance.
“He told all of us we couldn’t ring the police,” she explained.
To make matters worse, Crystal added the dog owner shouted: “If you ring the police or an ambulance I will let this dog outside and it’ll get you again.”
Sitting in their garden shed, absolutely petrified, the 17-year-old just wanted to go home.
Fortunately, her friend helped her leave and quickly called for an ambulance.
‘SO MANY SCARS’
Crystal needed two surgeries, but is still left with holes in her leg and permanent nerve damage.
The teen also struggled on crutches for weeks while trying to re-gain muscle.
It has taken years for Crystal to come to terms with the marks left behind, but now she accepts they are part of her.
However, the emotional trauma of such a terrifying event has only increased since having her baby four months ago.
She said: “The mental scars of it have definitely worsened since I had my little boy.
“They are getting worse as I get older.”
Taking her son out in the buggy for a walk can pose problems if there are dogs running around – and the possibility of ever owning one herself has been squashed.
AFTERMATH
When Crystal was discharged from hospital, she had to deal with the dog owner’s fury as well as her difficult healing process.
Her friend’s stepdad was so angry his dog had been removed by police, he decided to get revenge.
Crystal said: “It was very odd. I get that he was upset at losing his dog.
“About a week after I came out of hospital, he also smashed my stepdad’s car.”
Around six months after the incident the dog was destroyed, and Crystal was awarded £500 compensation after taking the case to court.
But the victim still believes the attack was the owner’s fault, and didn’t want the dog put down.
“I had built love for that dog myself,” she added.
“I kept fighting and fighting for them to give it rehab and training and then re-home it.”
Crystal was left with huge chunks of her leg missing and is still struggling with the mental traumaMirrorpix
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