Police are investigating an incident that happened in July where a 56-year-old woman was attacked by two dogs and left bleeding in the road with horrific injuries. Two months later, Sarah Blaylock is still struggling and faced the prospect of plastic surgery at one point.
Her leg wounds were so bad they were likened to injuries inflicted by garden machinery 'hedgecutter-style wounds'. Sarah cannot recall some details of the incident that happened on Sunday, July 24 in Rossett, Wrexham, as the attack was so brutal and quick. She added: "I must have blocked it out."
North Wales Police (NWP) has identified that the dogs were both "Mastiff types" with one being grey and the other brindle coloured. Officers are also trying to trace a dark-coloured Vauxhall Insignia estate that might have been driven by their owners.
On the evening of the attack, Sarah was out walking her own dog, a Springer Spaniel called Wilf, at around 8.35pm. As she passed Rossett business park along a country lane she heard a scream and turned to see two dogs charging at her.
"It all happened so quickly," she said. "I imagine the woman screamed because the dogs had got loose and were running at me. Later, the police told me I shouldn’t have run, but that was my instinct, and looking back now, I wish I hadn’t.
"The dogs seemed to circle us. I stopped running when I saw one had pinned Wilf on his back. I hadn’t realised but the other had gone behind me. It attacked me but I can’t actually remember being bitten.”
A man ran to the scene to retrieve a pink phone dropped by his partner and promised Sarah he would return to check on her condition. According to police, the pair jumped in their car and sped off with the dogs, leaving Sarah bleeding in the road instead.
Incredibly, she staggered some distance before a startled motorist pulled up to offer help. As Sarah was bleeding so profusely, and didn’t want to ruin the good Samaritan’s car, both walked on to Lavister, where help came via the Nag’s Head Pub.
Sarah’s husband Mike took her to Wrexham Maelor Hospital, and X-rays were considered because there were concerns her shin bone might have been fractured. Two months later, her wounds are still being dressed three times a week, as infection has set in.
"You should have seen her leg," Sarah's friend wrote on Facebook. "She looked like she had been mangled with a hedgecutter." Her family is still dealing with the aftermath.
Sarah is now back at work at her Rossett home office working as a policy manager at Cheshire West and Chester Council after being given two weeks' leave. She's been forced to lay up however , leaving her unable to socialise, walk Wilf or undertake many household chores.
Sarah said: "I was traumatised but I didn’t actually feel any pain at the time. I think it affected Mike worse because he saw the injury and he's had to deal with everything that came afterwards.
"The hospital A&E said they were the worst dog bites they had ever seen. I believe the deepest one occurred because the dog’s owner tore it off me while its jaws were still clamped on my leg.
"I’ve been told to take it easy, to allow the muscles and tendons time to heal. I’ve just begun making short trips in the car again but if I do too much, my leg swells up again."
NWP Wrexham Rural police team is asking the public to help trace the Vauxhall Insignia’s owners.
"They may be able to assist in the investigation,” said a spokesperson. "Equally we are keen for anyone who may know of similar dogs to come forward.
"The dogs were with a male and female. The female is described as about 5ft 5 with brown hair tied back, and the male is described as a similar height with dark hair. The pair walked off with the dogs before the male returned and picked up a pink phone."
Anyone with any information is being urged to contact the police via 101 or via the NWP live webchat facility. The crime reference number is 22000533629.
Sarah is hoping the appeal will prevent others going through what she went through. She added: "It’s ruined our summer but it could have been so much worse. A centimetre or two to the left, or a little bit deeper, and the dog could have hit an artery and I would have bled out.
"I just hope the police are able to find the dogs and their owners. You hear that once a dog has a taste of blood, they will do it again, and I wouldn’t want anyone to suffer like I did."
