A ROUTINE morning run turned into a nightmare for Vicky Clark, who is urging fellow runners to take precautions after she was attacked by three dogs in Glenridge Road, Westville, recently.

The attack left her needing a two-hour operation and three days in hospital.

Clark, who has been running for 16 years, said she had set out for her usual morning jog when the incident occurred. Little did she know that what started as an ordinary run would leave her seriously injured and traumatised.

Recounting her ordeal, the Cowies Hill resident said she was about 6km into her run when she passed a house with an open gate and three dogs ran out and attacked her.

Also read: Domestic worker attacked by dog

“I ran past a house where the gate was open and three dogs ran out at me. They attacked me and brought me to the ground. I had a Taser, but it went flying when I fell. Two were circling me and the other was biting me,” she said.

Clark said she screamed for help before the owner eventually came outside and attempted to pull the dogs away.

“The owner eventually came out. He tried to pull them away, but at first it was not successful. They finally went away,” she said.

With no immediate assistance available, Clark said she had to make her way to safety despite her injuries.

“I hobbled for about 400m to my ex-husband’s house. Just before I got there, a car stopped and the driver asked if I was OK. The driver made sure I got to the house safely. I had blood coming out,” she said.

Her ex-husband then rushed her to hospital, where she underwent a two-hour operation and spent three days receiving treatment.

Clark sustained wounds to her back, arm and leg. She said the injury to her arm was particularly serious, with doctors warning that if the muscle had torn just one millimetre further, her arm could have required amputation.

Clark said she decided to speak publicly about the incident to warn other runners about the potential dangers they could face while out on their usual routes.

Also read: Community saddened by deadly dog attack in New Germany

“Maybe run in groups, run with a whistle or have something to protect yourself,” she advised.

Although it has been a long road to recovery, she said physically she is healing but the mental trauma is going to be there for a long time.

“For years, I have been running by myself and I never had any issues. I love dogs and I even have dogs at home. Since the incident almost a month ago, I haven’t gone out on my own. Small things trigger me,” she said.

Clark said she is grateful to be alive and recovering but the experience has left her with trauma. “It was lucky that they attacked me. If it was a child, that child would have died,” she said.

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