Story
Update: Read the article published on Edinburgh Live here
My dear friend and classmate from Edinburgh University was walking with their medical assistance dog Reece, at 4:30pm Monday 29 May, W Nicholson Street, near the Farmfoods store in central Edinburgh. A small black pug wearing a 'service dog' vest came from nowhere and attacked Reece.
The owner chastised her children for not holding onto the pug but did little to help. The owner of the pug quickly left, and despite my friend trying to follow them, being on the phone to police at the time, and asking them to provide their name and contact details - the pug owner ignored her. My friend snapped this picture of the owner and pug as they walked away (face obscured in pic as I don't want to get in trouble).
Reece is not just a best friend. She is trained to alert her owner when they are about to have a medical emergency. I have seen this happen in-person. By alerting them, Reece gives my friend time to find a safe space and alert others.
Reece needs to be happy and healthy to do this incredibly important job, which allows my friend to live their life to the absolute fullest.
Hopefully someone will recognise the negligent pug owner and report them so my friend can begin pursuing reimbursment for the cost of the vet bill she is out of pocket for.
However, this will take time. The chances of identifying them and then successfully being paid are slim. My friend is an international student going on to become a school teacher, so unexpected costs like this have a significant impact. (See bill pictured above, personal details of employees have been obscured).
If you can spare any money at all please donate - I will be MORE than happy to refund you, should the negligent pug owner eventually reimburse my friend. Just comment to let me know if you are making a donation or lending the money.
If you recognise the owner of the black pug please report them to police on 101 or online MAKING SURE TO QUOTE *INCIDENT NUMBER 3754*
