Calala resident David Hopper says he was bitten by a German shepherd being walked on a leash by a man on the Campbell Rd footpath between 7.30pm and 8pm on Tuesday. 

Now he’s spoken out, warning others because he thinks it could pose a danger to other residents – particularly children. 

“People need to know there is a dangerous dog in the area,” Mr Hopper said on Thursday.

“What if I had been a child? Where it bit me would be at the same level a child’s face could have been.”

Tamworth police confirmed yesterday they had received a report about the incident, had spoken with Mr Hopper and were investigating. 

Mr Hopper said the attack was unprovoked and occurred when he passed the dog and the man along the footpath.

“With no warning at all, the dog just bit me as I walked past them,” he said.

“There were two women walking behind them and I asked them, ‘Did you see that? That dog bit me’ and then I shouted at the man that his dog had bitten me.

“The women said they were family and that the dog didn’t normally do that, what can they do?

“By the way, the blood was coming out of me and I told them I had to get to the hospital. 

“The man had stopped and taken a few steps back, but he didn’t say anything.”

Mr Hopper said he couldn’t recall the women reacting at all, but he was shocked because of all the blood coming from the wound.

“I’m pretty sure the man left the scene before I did, but I had to get help – the blood was going everywhere.”

Mr Hopper walked home in bloodied clothes to call an ambulance.

He was transferred to hospital and operated on to clean the wound site the following day. He has been treated with intravenous and oral antibiotics since then. 

“Animal bites can cause horrible infections in humans,” he said. 

He underwent skin graft surgery yesterday because of the extensive area affected by the bite. 

Mr Hopper hopes to be going home soon but he knows his type 2 diabetes will slow down the healing process.

“It’s the inconvenience, too; my wife doesn’t have a driver’s licence and I can’t drive for a little while, and then it is all the hassles with simply doing things while I recover,” he said.

“I love animals and I don’t want to see the dog hurt – but I also couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t say anything now and something more serious happened to a child later.”

Mr Hopper and his family are calling for anyone who might have seen the incident on the footpath near the IGA driveway, or who might have information about the dog, to contact Tamworth Police station on 6768 2999.

DOGS in public places must be, by law, under the effective leashed control of a competent person over 16 years, capable of restraining it, Tamworth Regional Council has told The Leader.

This means the dog must be attached to an adequate chain, cord or leash being held by (or secured to) the person.

Restricted dog breeds must be kept on a lead and be muzzled when ever outside its enclosure. 

The German shepherd breed is not classified as a restricted breed. 

Any dog can be classified dangerous if it has, without provocation, attacked or killed a person or animal (other than vermin); has, without provocation, repeatedly threatened to attack or repeatedly chased a person or animal (other than vermin); or is kept or used for hunting.

Originally published as Bitten and bloody: elderly man hospitalised after attack (graphic image) by Northern Daily Leader.