BOOT BITE
Horror moment XL Bully attacks cop as dog ‘latches onto her boot’ causing injuries and major probe launched
The PSNI have released a statement addressing the incident
THIS is the horror moment an XL Bully lunged towards a PSNI officer and "latched" its teeth onto her boot.
Police were in attendance at a property in the North Belfast area on June 26 when the attack took place.
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Video footage of the incident has been circulating on social media and shows the dog biting at the foot of the officer as she made her way from the property to the garden gate.
The officer grabbed hold of the fence to the side of the property as she attempted to shake the grip of the vicious dogs teeth from her foot.
The PSNI have since confirmed that the unidentified officer "sustained an injury to her foot after the dog latched onto her boot".
A male colleague, who was in attendance with the officer at the North Belfast property, attempted to remove the dog from the officers leg with a baton.
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The shock footage shows the moment he whipped out his baton and began to hit the frenzied animal in an attempt to stop it from attacking the female officer.
A member of the public, who was also at the property, can then be seen attempting to stop the attack.
She used a sweeping brush in an attempt to distract the dog and then began to pull the animals tail in an attempt to dislodge its grip on the officer.
The officer who was being attacked, had now made her way to the gate of the property and was holding onto it as the dog, whose tail was being pulled at this point, continued to bite her boot
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The member of the public took the police baton from the officer, who was behind the gate and unable to deploy it, and began to use it in an effort to stop the dog.
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The boot then came loose from the officer's foot and the dog stopped its attack.
The two officers in attendance then returned to their vehicle.
The PSNI have since confirmed that the male officer was not injured in the incident and the dog warden has been contacted in relation to the incident.
A spokesperson said: "Police are aware of a video circulating online after an officer was bitten by a dog whilst on duty.
"Officers were at a property in north Belfast on Wednesday, 26th June when an officer was attacked by a dog.
"The officer sustained an injury to her foot after the dog latched onto her boot. Another officer who was present at the time of the dog attack thankfully was not injured.
"The dog warden has been contacted in relation to this report and enquiries remain ongoing."
The PSNI do not have powers under the Dogs NI Order 1983. Any decision to seize or euthanise the dog is a matter for the Council.
Last month, a young woman who was celebrating her 23rd birthday was killed after being attacked by her four dogs at her home in Fedamore, Co Limerick.
An XL Bully was shot dead during the incident by the Regional Armed Support Unit as it continued to pose a threat to emergency workers.
Three other dogs seized from the home where tragic Nicole Morey was mauled to death were also destroyed.
The four mutts, all restricted breeds — understood to be two XL Bullies and two Staffordshire Bull Terriers — were “extremely aggressive” at the property when first responders arrived.