Limerick influencer calls for better animal control following 'gruesome' attack

A LIMERICK influencer has emphasised the importance of proper pet control after a 'traumatising' attack by a dog.

Lucy Fitz, originally from Askeaton, now living in Barcelona, uploaded the story of the incident on her social media this Tuesday.

After receiving an extensive bite on her leg from a neighbouring dog, Lucy says that the attack happened in the square near  where she lives with her boyfriend, Dylan and two dogs. "The dog was off the lead even though he attacked me last year too," she stated on her Instagram story.

The dog in question is understood to be a Weimaraner breed. "He literally locked eyes with me from about seven meters away and just went for me," Lucy added in disbelief.

After the event, the tattoo artist told her followers that "every other dog l've met of this bread has been very gentle and sweet it's just him and just with me for some reason. Just beware when you're out and about, of all dogs!"

In a plea to her viewers and pet owners, she urges them to use muzzles and leads if they have a history of aggression. "Please, put your dog on a fe**ing lead [...] if you know your dog is vicious, even if it just happened one time before."

Lucy was accompanied by her partner, and their two dogs, which resemble small Dachshunds, Bruno and Bonny when the incident happened.

She said, "I had Bonny in her carrier bag on my shoulder and she got lose and everything, when I got free [from the dog] I ran across the square [to her].

"Thank god for Dylan picking up Bruno a few seconds before because Bruno would one hundred percent be gone now if he didn't do that."

The bite, or "chunk" as she coined it, resulted in the Askeaton girl spending several hours in the hospital, returning home at 3:51am on crutches, with a bandage around her injury.

In the aftermath, Lucy reflected on the incident, saying, "I'm just happy my two [dogs] are okay."

She added: "I keep thinking about all the different scenarios that could have happened and I’m very grateful that this was the case, because honestly it could have been so so much worse."

Due to fly back to Ireland this Thursday, the artist admits that the event has been "so stressful."