Former Liverpool footballer Jermaine Pennant, 43, has revealed he needed more than 50 stitches after being attacked by a dog while walking his own pet in North London. The former Premier League star said his own dog, King, an American Akita, leapt to his defence during the incident.
Attack during a walk
The talkSPORT pundit was walking King when an aggressive German Shepherd confronted them. Pennant said he stepped in to protect King after the other dog went for him.
He described the moment the German Shepherd turned on him: "The next thing I know, it was attacking me. I was on the floor and it was on my leg for at least five seconds."
Saved by his own dog
Pennant said King jumped in to protect him, and the two dogs fought before King stood by his side until help arrived. He told The Sun: "He saved my life. If King had been a smaller dog, there would have been no chance."
Both dogs were off the lead when they came together. Pennant's girlfriend, Mimmi Montgomery, called him a taxi to a nearby A&E, where he was treated for four bite wounds on his right leg.
No police report
Pennant said he will not be reporting the incident to police, adding: "It's just one of those things. I'm fine, the dog's fine. It's all good."
Police-recorded offences of dog attacks have risen from 16,040 in 2020 to 29,400 last year, an increase of 83%. The true figure is likely higher as unreported incidents are excluded from the data.
