By Jenny Barwise

Last updated 12:11, Tuesday, 02 December 2008

A Whitehaven pensioner who was savagely attacked by a dog went to identify it last night.

William Kirkbride

Police officers took 72-year-old William Kirkbride from his home at Burnmoor Avenue, Mirehouse, to a house in the town where they believed the dog was from.

The results of the identification process have not yet been revealed by police.

Mr Kirkbride is still going to the West Cumberland Hospital every two days to get his dressings changed on the wound to his right hand, where the dog – believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier cross – pounced on him, ripping the skin off on November 19.

Mr Kirkbride was taking his two Dalmatian dogs out for a walk near his home at around 9pm, when a dog bolted up to them and bit one of his dogs, Jake, on the neck.

Mr Kirkbride tried to pull Jake away from the other dog, but had no luck.

The dog’s owner walked over and kicked his dog three times to make it let go of Jake’s neck, but the dog then jumped at Mr Kirkbride, biting his hand and tearing the skin off.

After the attack, the dog’s owner put its lead on and ran away with it.

Police launched an appeal for any information about the identification of the dog and its owner and last week the News & Star appealed for the public’s help.

Mr Kirkbride said: “After people got the paper, the police said that they got all kinds of phone calls about the dog.”

Mr Kirkbride has just found out that he does not need plastic surgery on the wound – which doctors at first thought he would need – and although it is now infected, doctors have told him that it is healing well.

He said that he has been inundated with kind wishes from neighbours and friends since the incident.

Mr Kirkbride told the News & Star this morning: “My hand is a bit better and I have had a sleep last night and I haven’t had one since it done it.

“It is healing. The doctor on Sunday said that it is lovely and knitting up very well.

“Everybody is coming up and asking me how my hand is.”