A Halls Head woman is in Fremantle Hospital today having surgery on her arm after a dog ran at her on Friday .
Heidi de Villiers was walking along the beach between 4pm and 5pm and a dog ran towards her.
“I could see the owner calling the dog, but the dog ignored her calls and kept coming towards me at a high speed,” the pensioner said.
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READ NOW“I had no idea what the intentions of the dog were.
“Was the dog coming to greet me? Or to attack me?
“To be on the safe side, I stuck my arms out to protect myself, shooing the dog away.”
Ms de Villiers said the dog became excited and was barking and jumping at her.
“To try and get away from the dog, not wanting to turn my back on it, I started treading backwards into the ocean,” Ms de Villiers said.
“I tripped on a plate of rocks and ended up with a fractured/snapped and dislocated wrist.
“I spent the rest of the evening until after 12pm at the Emergency Ward, having to have aneasthetic to try and replace the bone.”
Ms de Villiers said the experience had been traumatic and painful.
“For the next few weeks I have to forfeit my income as an employee of the City of Mandurah as a casual instructor – teaching Zen Yoga – at MARC in Pinjarra Road,” she said.
“As a pensioner this income is important to me.”
Ms de Villiers urged dog owners to have control of their dogs at all times.
City of Mandurah chief executive Mark Newman said council was investigating the incident.
“Owners must take responsibility for their dogs in all areas and at all times – this includes when they are in designated off the leash areas,” he said.
“Our message is that members of the public should not be complacent about wandering or uncontrolled dogs and report them to rangers to help prevent attacks and injuries.
“Any attacks should be reported as soon as possible after the incident.”
Rangers are on duty seven days a week from 7am to 7pm by phoning 9550 3777. The City also provides an after-hours service for dog attacks as they are reported.