Palmerston man’s thumb severed after being bitten by family dog

A PALMERSTON man’s thumb was ‘severed’ after being inadvertently bitten on his hand by his family dog

A PALMERSTON man has had to undergo emergency surgery on his hand after being inadvertently bitten by his family dog yesterday.

St John Ambulance Operations Manager Craig Garraway told the ABC a man was bitten on the hand in Bakewell yesterday, with his thumb severely damaged.

The mother of the man, Lindell Muggeridge said it had been a traumatic time for the family, who had been saying goodbye to another dog which had been recommended by vets to be put down.

“We had a 13-year-old dog put to sleep by a vet, a home vet. The home vet recommended we let the other dog say good bye,” she said.

“We let the other dog come in and say goodbye, he came in and started attacking the deceased dog … he was in shock maybe, trying to wake him up, I don’t know.

“Shane, my son was trying to pull the dog off and he got bitten.”

Ms Muggeridge said her son was still awaiting surgery despite reports his thumb had been tended to last night.

“His thumb is definitely very severed, there’s quite a few puncture wounds, he’s been in hospital since 5pm yesterday and is still waiting for surgery,” she said.

“My son has lost his 13-year-old dog out of this and is in a bad way, the 13-year-old dog was his rock.”

Mr Muggeridge is currently awaiting surgery for lacerations to his hand.

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“I send my condolences to my boy Douglas, he will be forever missed,” he said.

“We are taking appropriate measures due to the circumstances.”

Originally published as Palmerston man’s thumb severed after being bitten by family dog