Nurse and patient bitten as dogs run amok in hospital grounds: Middlesbrough

A nurse and an in-patient are today recovering from minor dog bites after an incident in the grounds of James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough yesterday (Sunday 14th February).

At around 6.45am police received a call from hospital security staff reporting three Rottweiler dogs were running around the hospital grounds.

One had bitten a 36 year old female nurse who was walking across the car park.

An elderly male patient was also bitten while he was outside the hospital building.

The animals - a male, a female and a pup - had later gathered at an entrance to the hospital where people were attempting to enter the building.

They then ran off down Marton Road, towards the shops near the Belle Vue roundabout.

Numerous Police Officers from Middlesbrough District Support Unit (DSU), the Armed Response Unit and the Dog Section were joined by colleagues from the RSPCA to round up and contain the dogs.

DSU officers used their shields to corral the animals into a corner behind shops.

Two were caught by 7.45am and the third by just after 8am.

They were all placed in separate vans while an on-call Vet was called to check their welfare.

The dogs were eventually taken to a rescue centre in the Middlesbrough area while police efforts to trace the owners continue.

Sgt Ian Sharp, of Middlesbrough Police's Community Safety Team, said:

"Our main concern was obviously public safety and while this was undoubtedly a frightening experience for the two people directly affected as well as others who witnessed it, the incident was dealt with swiftly and professionally by police and our partners at the RSPCA.

"I would appeal for anyone who has not yet spoken to police about this incident or anyone who knows who the dogs' owner is to get in touch."

Please contact Middlesbrough Police Front Desk on 01642 303126.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

thats terrible, you just have to wonder how three dogs came to be wandering around like that...

i wonder if they were mum, dad and puppy... i hope it is a happy ending for them.