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20th April 2023
01:05pm BST
A dog owner who lost her arm after an American Bulldog she was fostering mauled her is suing the RSPCA for £200,000.
Joanna Harris claims the charity knew the 15-month-old, called Kiwi, was aggressive and is taking court action over the life-changing injuries she suffered.
The 49-year-old was set upon in her home, in Crowborogh, East Sussex, after she was forced to pull the bulldog's jaws off her other dog, Bo.
Kiwi then turned on her and latched onto her arm.
Harris was unable to free herself from Kiwi's grip and dragged the dog into the garden where she shouted for a neighbour to call police and an ambulance.
After biting and shaking her arm, Kiwi then tried to sink its teeth into Harris' neck.
When police arrived 20 minutes later, Kiwi was still latched onto his foster mum.
Officers were also unable to drag the dog off Harris and had to taser Kiwi three times to subdue the out-of-control canine.
Vets later put Kiwi down.
Harris was taken to hospital with her left bicep exposed, no blood supply or mobility in her arm, and further injuries on her right arm, hand and leg.
Due to the injuries she suffered during the incident on 3 September 2021, surgeons were forced to amputate her arm.
Before Harris took Kiwi in, the dog had allegedly been aggressive to staff and inflicted minor injuries.
On 26 August that year, just a week before the attack, the dog tried to bite Harris but remained in her care.
The attack happened a week later.
Harris' lawyers claim the RSPCA breached the Animal Act because it should have known the dog was aggressive by its previous behaviour, and by allowing Kiwi to be fostered when it was unsafe.
Irwin Mitchell added the RSPCA failed to remove Kiwi from Harris' house when the dog first tried to bite her.
The RSPCA has denied liability.
Harris said: “It’s almost difficult to put into words what happened to me and the impact it’s had. I’ve always loved and grown up around dogs and really wanted to give a dog a home and a new life.
“What happened that day and how I was attacked in my own home is something that will stay with me forever.
“It was absolutely terrifying. Even when the police arrived Kiwi didn’t want to let go."
She said the pain was "excruciating and I knew I was in a bad way", but never thought she'd lose her arm.
“At that moment my life changed," Harris explained.
“I lost a lot of confidence and independence. I became a lot more reliant on friends and family, even for things such as getting dressed and food shopping, things many people take for granted.
“I try and remain as positive as I can and want to focus of my recovery, but I feel I deserve answers to the concerns I have.”
Harris, who works in the financial industry, had to take substantial time off work due to her injuries.
Chani Dhaliwal, the expert serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, added: “Joanna has faced an incredibly difficult time coming to terms with the physical and psychological impact of the incident which has changed her life forever.
“Her case vividly highlights the devastating effect such incidents can have on people. Understandably she has a number of concerns about what happened and whether more could have been done to prevent her horrific injuries.
“While nothing can make up for what she’s been through we’re determined to support Joanna to provide her with not only the answers she deserves but also the specialist support and therapies she requires to regain more of her independence.
“Sadly we’re seeing more incidents where people have been seriously injured in dog bite attacks. This has been particularly the case since lockdown when dog ownership increased.”
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