5:50pm Wednesday 15th October 2008
By Craig Burnett
A Mitcham victim of last week’s attack has described its traumatic impact and called for tougher laws on dangerous dogs.
Joyce DeFreitas is still in St George’s Hospital, Tooting having endured a skin graft and three trips to the hospital’s operating theatres since she was mauled near her home last Wednesday.
Speaking from her hospital bed, she said that the attack had left her “anxious” and “fearful”, as well as physically hurt.
Mrs DeFreitas, of Berkshire Way, said: “It’s going to be hardest when I get back home. I lay here and I get flashbacks - I can’t even look at photos of the injuries. I want to block it out if I can.”
She has urged the authorities to toughen up laws on dog ownership to prevent a repeat of the attack, which she described as “so bad I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy”.
Mrs DeFreitas was mauled as she left her house on a shopping trip to Ikea. The 56-year-old had got out of her car to close her driveway gates behind her when she felt a nudge against her thigh.
The dog then clamped its jaws into Mrs DeFreitas’ legs and buttocks, causing three large wounds and half a dozen smaller ones. She clung desperately to the top of her gate to avoid being dragged to the ground by the animal. “I just screamed and screamed and hung on for dear life,” she said.
Mrs DeFreitas was rescued by two passing neighbours, one of whom threw his crutch at the dog. After they drove the animal away, the neighbours helped her inside where she waited for an ambulance crew to arrive.
The victim said that a license for dog owners should be reintroduced by the Government.
“There should be a computer database, and if the owner is not on that they should be prosecuted. Innocent people don’t deserve this.”
Mrs DeFreitas said she was feeling positive about her recovery, and praised the paramedics and hospital staff who treated her after the attack.
She added: “Without all the doctors and nurses I don’t know where I would be. The neighbours have been so supportive, and my friends have really lifted my spirits.”
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