'˜No help' for Bexhill pensioner after dog broke her arm

Valerie Rodney, of Gwyneth Grove, was knocked over by a ‘10-stone’ dog off its lead while walking on Galley Hill on August 27.

The 80-year-old said police cannot help her as she is unable identify the dog’s owner who did not apologise and walked off after her dog broke the widow’s arm, losing her confidence and independence as well.

“I’ve tried every avenue but without the identity of the owner it’s quite difficult,” Mrs Rodney said

“I was flat on the floor came over put the dog on the lead and said, ‘she’s alright,’ and went off as fast as she could go.”

Mrs Rodney was out on Galley Hill with a couple of friends visiting her late husband Daniel Rodney’s memorial bench, who died 15 months ago.

Two dogs came bounding towards her excitedly and one knocked her over which, after a trip to hospital, was found to have broken her arm leaving her in a cast for seven weeks.

The widow has been unable to drive since then meaning she has little social life and has to pay for taxis or get the bus.

But the pain and psychological impact of the incident hurts more and all Mrs Rodney wants is an apology, possibly some compensation and to ensure it does not happen again.

“I would like an apology and a promise to keep her dogs on a lead as she was not in control of the dogs,” she said.

“I’m sorry to say it but the woman was irresponsible as if it had been a pregnant lady or a baby it could’ve been a lot worse.”

Mrs Rodney’s friend saw the dogs and their owner a fortnight after the incident and took a picture of her number plate to show to police.

But she were told the picture was ‘too fuzzy’ to make out the registration number and could not proceed.

“I’m usually a confident person but this really has knocked my confidence,” Mrs Rodney said.

“If I see a dog I quickly cross the road so I don’t walk past it. And with the police, I have never asked anything of them throughout my life. I feel very let down as they’ve done nothing to help me.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Unfortunately, we have been unable to identify the owner of the dogs involved in this incident.

“An image of a BMW X5 taken a couple of weeks later and believed to be the one involved has been carefully examined, but the registration is not clear and despite searches on various combinations of the apparent letters and numbers, no match has been made.

“We are aware of the discomfort that Mrs Rodney has been experiencing and it would be our wish to have brought her some resolution to this nasty incident.

“However, unless someone can identify the owner, we have no further lines of enquiry that will enable us to take any further action.”

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