A CHINGFORD woman has described the horrifying moment her thumb was ripped off in a dog attack.

Shelley Bowen, 41, of Normanshire Drive, was walking her own dog, Sid, on October 23 at about 5pm when another animal ran away from its owners and attacked her.

She said: “I was screaming for help. I had a cream coat on and I was covered in blood.

“It was like something out of a horror movie. People didn't want to come near me.”

Although paramedics worked to reattach Mrs Bowen's thumb, they were unable to do so and she has been left permanently maimed.

And Mrs Bowen has said the police have taken no action against the dog's owners despite being called to the incident and that the matter has been 'dropped'.

She said: “They've said they think it's a closed case. I'm very angry. My thumb was bitten off down to my wrist.

“If the dog had gone any further, I could have died.”

Her own dog, an Alsatian, described as a 'big softie', was on a lead at the time and was left terrified by the ordeal, she said.

Mrs Bowen said: “It went for my dog's neck and was shaking it around. I obviously got in the way – it just bit my thumb clean off.

“My dog was very distressed and screaming.”

She said other witnesses who saw the attack said she 'didn't stand a chance'.

Friend Sharon Matyk added: “The police feel it's all closed and taken care of. We thought that meant they were going to have the dog destroyed but they're not.

“I've organised a meeting so that all the local people can talk to the police about this.”

She added that a number of witnesses had seen the attack and could confirm what happened to officers.

The meeting is to be held with Larkswood Safer Neighbourhoods Team on November 4 to address the incident.

A police spokeswoman said: "Waltham Forest police carried out a thorough investigation into the incident following their attendance at the scene.

"Unfortunately, it could not be determined which dog caused the injury and therefore the incident cannot be classified as a crime."

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