Brutal attack on an exchange student and service dogs

Hello, my name is Leah. I am an American exchange student in Scotland. I traveled here with my two service dogs: Hamlet the Siberian Husky medical alert service dog and Atticus the Great Dane mix psychiatric service dog. We were starting to get accustomed to the no leash laws in the U.K. but I still did not allow my dogs to walk off leash unless we are in an enclosed area. While they are very well trained, they are still dogs. One night in late January we walked over to the nearby park that has an enclosed area where they could run and play but I could still keep an eye on them. We found that park our first night here so by our second week we were comfortable with this park. In my comfort, I failed to ensure the gate was 100% latched. I have beat myself nearly to death replaying this mistake in my mind and blaming myself every single day since.

On the night of January 31st, I took my dogs out for their final walk of the day. We went to Beechwood park where we had gone every night since I arrived in Scotland on January 18th. Within the park is a smaller encloses area roughly the size of a small small play ground. After closing the gate (or so I thought), I removed the leashes from my dogs and allowed them to run and play. While I was on the phone with my nephew at home, a very large dog (it was dark so my best guess was that it was a pit-bull based on its stature and size but I can’t be 100%) ran through the gate and attacked Hamlet first. I dropped my phone and Atticus and I immediately ran to his aid. It was very difficult to fend off this massive dog. Not only was this dog huge but my own dogs are very large as well. Both of my dogs weigh between 65-70 pounds. This created a massive 3 dog fighting brawl. I began trying to pull Atticus off the pit pull so that I could get the pit bull off Hamlet. However, that was not so easily done. I had to pull off my coat and throw it on the ground so I could have a better range of motion. I began punching the dog in the top of his head with my left hand which caused a small fracture and massive bruising. The dog was taking turns between biting Hamlet and Atticus. Finally, the let go of Hamlet’s throat (I can only presume to be able to get a better grip on him). I was able to grab Hamlet by his collar then. However, Atticus was still biting his legs and back so when the dog turned around to bit Atticus it bit my right hand instead. In that moment, I realized that I had been bitten but did not realize not the severity of the bite. All within the same moment, Atticus let go of the dog's leg and I saw an opportunity to kick the dog. I landed a kick right under its jaw. The dog sort of stumbled and fell backwards and began yelping. I continued to kick it while holding both of my dogs by their collars. Finally, it staggered back to its feet and took off running back towards the tree line where I assume it came from. I immediately closed and locked the gate. Then I separated my dogs because I did not want them to begin fighting each other simply because their adrenaline was so high. I was able to attach their leashes to their collar then attach the other end of their leash to the gate so they would be detained and could properly calm down and rest. I began looking over them to see if they had any major wounds. There was so much blood everywhere that I could not tell where any of it was coming from. That was when I looked down at my hand and realized the dog had bitten off my thumb! I immediately panicked! I ran to where my coat was on the ground and found my phone that I dropped. I turned on the flashlight and looked at my thumb. It was completely severed. I shined the light to the ground and saw my detached thumb lying on the ground. I knew I needed to keep it! I picked it up and put it in a brand new doggy bag (that was the only clean bag I had on hand). I called the police and emergency services. I had a major panic and asthma attack while I was on the phone with the emergency dispatcher. They rushed to me and immediately began trying to assess the situation. Several officers remained with my dogs to ensure they were safe. The EMTs started cleaning my hand and thumb while other police began trying to find the dog. I was rushed to the hospital. While I was being rushed to the hospital, the police stayed with my dogs in the park. They waited for 4 hours for Atticus to calm down enough to allow the police to pet him without scaring him. He was so upset that he barked for the entire 4 hours to the point of making himself horse. Both of my dogs were covered in blood so the police were unsure of the severity of their injuries. I was so worried about my dogs that the EMTs had to scold me in order to make me pay attention to my own injuries so they could help me. The police were finally able to get him calmed down enough to put both him and Hamlet in the police car to take to the emergency vet to be checked out. The vet informed the police that both dogs had puncture wounds and superficial wounds that would heal without the need of surgery or stitches. They would however need to take pain meds while they healed. Hamlet had a puncture wound 2 cm from his right eye and one puncture on the top of his head near his left ear (his throat was unharmed due to the amount of thick fur around his neck). Atticus had puncture wounds across his snout, on the top of his head and on his left leg. His snout swelled up to nearly three times its normal size from the bites. Once the vet discharged the boys with non-life threatening wounds, the police took them back to the police station and allowed them to stay overnight since I had no way to come get them nor did I have anyone who would be able to collect them for me. At the hospital I was informed that the severed part of my thumb would not be able to be reattached due to the crushing force of the dog bite. They had to do reconstructive surgery to close nerve endings and blood vessels and to cover the exposed bone in my now mutilated thumb. I was in the hospital for 4 days. I was informed that I would not be able to use my right hand for some time. To be exact, it could take up to 18 months for the nerves in my thumb to begin to feel normal.

I have been unable to get groceries for myself bc I cannot pick up nor carry heavy items. I have been unable to cook for myself bc I cannot lift anything heavy. I have been unable to take both of my dogs out together. I cannot ensure control of them should another situation arise and I am terrified of all other dogs now. This is NOT normal for me as I used to manage an emergency animal clinic in the United States so I am very familiar with and love all animals. Not only am I uneasy and nervous around other dogs now but so are my service dogs. I have had to pay someone to walk my boys for me and I have had to order my food from delivery services to be brought straight to my door. This is the entire reason for creating this GoFundMe. Since I am an exchange student here on a student visa I am forbidden from working. I had my budget very meticulously planned before I left the U.S. but did not anticipate a disaster of this magnitude. Since this attack I have blown through over $4000 that I did not plan to spend. I am three months into a six month stay and my money is gone. I saved every penny I made for over a year in preparation for this once in a lifetime trip. Now, I feel as though it has all been for naught bc I cannot properly enjoy myself and I am in constant worry of how I will pay for the end of my trip and my flight home. My rent is now late and my landlord has sent me a letter to vacate.

In addition to spending an exuberant amount of money that I did not plan for, I have been battling depression as a result of my butchered hand, lowered self esteem, and self confidence. Most days I am unable to get out of bed. I wake up and for a split second I forget what has happened to me, then I look down and see my deformed hand. I spend most of my days sleeping and crying. I have managed to make a few friends that I would never have met had this tragedy not occurred. My suite mate at the hospital was a medical student from UAE. She and her friends who visited her were so sweet to me. They found out that I was an exchange student here alone so they included me in their conversations and helped console me when I would get upset. She even gave me her own coat to wear home when I was discharged bc mine was destroyed (ripped and bloodied) in the attack. I also met two of the most wonderful ladies (Tracey Ivy Whyte and Keri Merrilees) while I was at the hospital. They check in on me regularly and invite me to their home which has helped me in more ways than I’ll ever be able to express to them. So while this tragedy has devastated me mentally, physically, and financially, I am able to admit that it has brought some great people into my life that I would have otherwise never met.

I know money is tight for everyone right now, so I absolutely DETEST having to result to this but I am at the end of my rope and this is my last resort. I am more than happy to provide receipts for everything I’ve spent since I’ve been here. I am also more than happy to provide appointment letters and photos of my injuries to verify my story (I know there are a lot of scammers out there who only want to take advantage of peoples kindness).