health
Woman had 'horror film' face injuries after attack by dog she'd known from puppy
A woman mauled by a dog she had known since it was a puppy says she faces years of surgery after the attack left her with devastating injuries. Samantha Redding, 20, had been around the Spanish mastiff crossed with a bear-headed Akita, which belonged to her friend’s father, since it was young and says she had never known it to be aggressive.
TL;DR
- Samantha Redding, 20, suffered devastating facial injuries after being attacked by a dog she had known since it was a puppy.
- The dog, a Spanish mastiff crossed with a bear-headed Akita, suddenly attacked Redding's face during a visit to a friend's father's house.
- Redding experienced excruciating pain and shock, initially not realizing the severity of her injuries.
- She has undergone four operations so far and faces potentially at least two more, with procedures spaced about eight weeks apart due to the need to protect blood supply to grafts.
- The attack has resulted in extensive scarring on her face, neck, arm, and leg, as well as nerve damage affecting her gums and teeth.
- Redding is undergoing therapy for anxiety and PTSD and has received support from her employer, Tesco, with a year-long career break.
- The dog is currently in police custody, and Redding is fundraising for further treatment.