Pensioner's arm 'almost ripped off' by police dog that attacked him outside his home
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A pensioner claims his arm was almost "ripped off" by a police dog which attacked him in front of his home.
Paul Carol, 69, was speaking to an officer about a break-in opposite his house when a police-dog handler lost control of his Alsatian.
The mutt broke away from its harness and sank its jaws into Mr Carol's arm leaving multiple puncture wounds.
Mr Carol, a retired electrician, has hit out at Nottinghamshire Police following the attack on March 15.
He said: "I was taking my bins out when I saw police outside the house opposite.
"I went over to the patrol car, and was leaning on it chatting to the officer who said they were investigating an attempted burglary.
"I was talking through the window and had my back to a dog handler who was attempting to get over a fence to find the suspects.
(Photo: SWNS.com)
"Suddenly the dog jumped onto my back and mauled my left arm.
"The first thing I knew about it was this very sharp pain on the left hand side of my back.
"I don't remember much after that, it must have knocked me unconscious.
"I always thought police dogs were meant to be better controlled than that to be honest.
"The police took me to hospital, and I was there for about three hours. The dog could have ripped my arm off.
"The police call them land sharks and now I know why. More needs to be done to train these animals not to attack innocent people.
"Apparently after it attacked me the dog had a couple of days extra training and was put back into service while I still suffer great discomfort in my arm.
"The whole incident has made me very scared of big dogs and I have suffered flash-backs."
(Photo: SWNS.com)
Police say the incident happened when the dog harness broke while they were investigating a break-in at a property in Clifton, Nottingham.
The day after the attack, a superintendent came to Mr Carol's home to apologise and two weeks later two officers visited him to explain that the dog's harness had snapped.
However since then, he says he has heard nothing from the police.
Mr Carol said: "I think it's a disgrace that I still haven't heard from them, I have no idea why they're taking so long and they haven't kept me informed at all."
A statement from Nottinghamshire Police said: "Officers were called at 5.30pm to reports of an attempted burglary in Gervase Gardens, Clifton.
"On arrival officers began a search, during which a member of the public was bitten by a police dog.
"The dog had become unintentionally detached from its harness.
"Officers acted quickly to assist a 69-year-old man, who had sustained injuries to his arm, and took him to Nottingham Queen's Medical Centre.
"The incident was immediately reported to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
"The man was visited the following day, and has since been visited by dog section officers.
(Photo: SWNS.com)
"He was later invited to and attended a police dog training day with the intention of demonstrating our hard-working, well-trained and dedicated dogs and dog handlers.
"This was an extremely unfortunate incident which will no doubt have had a big impact on the man.
"Officers have apologised in person to the victim and that sentiment is absolutely carried forward in our continued work to put things right for him.
"The force has up to three months to respond in terms of responsibility and we believe we will complete the necessary investigation and legal work within this time frame."