St Kilda dog walker spat on and slapped in unprovoked attack

A young dog walker has captured the moment a woman, believed to be substance-affected, hurled abuse at her before she was spat on and slapped in St Kilda.

A young dog walker has been left traumatised after she was spat on and slapped by a woman in an unprovoked attack in St Kilda.

Ellie Dowling, 27, was walking her dog, Archie, on the corner of Greeves and Blanche streets on Tuesday about 6pm when a random woman started yelling at her.

“I had never seen this woman in my life and I decided to cross the road to avoid her but she came running at me,” she told Leader.

“I turned the corner of Vale St when she chased after me again and started physically assaulting me.”

In a video recorded by Ms Dowling, the woman can be seen swearing and yelling “get your f---ng dog and f--- off over that way”.

The woman who allegedly abused Ellie Dowling while she was walking her dog Archie in St Kilda.

It’s believed the woman, who was wearing denim shorts and an orange top, was heavily substance affected at the time.

Ms Dowling said the woman spat at her, slapped her arm and even tried to punch her.

“I was really concerned for my safety but mostly confused,” she said.

“I had no idea why she was (attacking me) or what was going on.

“I couldn’t defend myself, I was holding my dog on a leash by myself on a busy street.”

Ms Dowling said some nearby homeowners came to her rescue and got the woman away from her.

She said more funding needs to be put towards supporting drug and alcohol facilities.

“St Kilda is getting quite dangerous if you’re a woman walking on your own,” she said.

“I think there needs to be more drug and alcohol facilities and programs in the area.

“There’s not enough support for (people) and safe places for them to go so more funding would help a lot.”

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