Wales, October 13: In another XL Bully dog attack case in the UK, a woman was subjected to a brutal dog attack in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, leaving her with puncture wounds and enduring psychological trauma. Rachael Millard, 35, recounted the incident where two aggressive American XL Bully dogs charged at her, prompting her to shield her 15-week-old puppy from their onslaught. The dogs reportedly pinned her down and left her with multiple puncture wounds during the seven-minute assault.
Throughout the ordeal, she screamed for help, but bystanders did not intervene. The attack came to an end when a colleague called out to Rachael, and she managed to escape the dogs and take refuge inside a house. She was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment, where she received care for the injuries to her leg and fingers. Rachael Millard, in a victim's personal statement, detailed the lasting impact of the attack, including sleep disturbances, anxiety, and fear whenever she goes out. Dog Attack in UK: XL Bully Dog Mauls Girl and Two Men in Birmingham, Distressing Video Surfaces.
According to multiple reports, the court revealed that the owner of the dogs, serial criminal Marcus Walsh, 41, had been banned from owning dogs at the time of the attack. Despite his ban, Walsh's dogs managed to escape his partner's house and perpetrate the attack. He later approached the victim with flowers, urging her not to report the incident to the police as he had already given the dogs away. UK Dog Attack Horror: Two American XL Bulldogs Kill 22 Pregnant Sheep, Shot Dead by Farmer in South Wales; In-Charge Banned From Keeping Dogs for Five Years.
During the sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams denounced Walsh's actions and emphasised his unsuitability as a dog owner. Walsh's defence lawyer highlighted his remorse and absence during the incident, emphasising that the dogs' behaviour was out of character. Walsh, with 121 previous convictions, including a similar offence in 2016, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and prohibited from owning dogs for an additional 10 years. Rachael Millard's ordeal highlights the need for strict enforcement of dog ownership regulations to ensure public safety and prevent such traumatic incidents from recurring.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 13, 2023 02:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).