Terrifying dog attack leaves Lancashire county councillor and former Chorley mayor badly shaken

Mark Perks had gone for a walk at Anglezarke with his pet border collie Cass which was attacked by two other dogs being taken for a walk on their leads by their owner.

Mark, 62, who has suffered two strokes in the last few years, was left with cuts and bruises and needed hospital treatment.

He is thankful to a 'Good Samaritan' family who heard his cries for help and rushed to his aid.

He has reported the incident to police.

He described the ordeal: "It was about 11.30am, We go for a walk round Anglezarke every day for the past four years.

"I was at the entrance to the woodland trail and there was a lady and gentleman at the information board - they had these two bull mastiff dogs.

"The male went for Cass, got onto her back, pinned her down and she started squealing and wailing. The other dog joined in.

"I tried to get them off and must have started shouting for help."

Mark said a local taxi business owner, Phil Cooper, of Cooper's Taxis and his wife Lynn and their family came running over.

The dogs were stopped from attacking Cass, but Mark said his hand was "heavily bleeding" and that he suffered other injuries too, including to his arm.

He said: "By this time my legs had turned to jelly, I could hardly walk."

Between them they got Cass home and put her on the couch and Mark was taken to Chorley Hospital.

Mark said Cass was "in a bit of a mess" but he was unable to get his vet out to see to his pet.

"Lots of people came helping," said Mark. "I'm so thankful with all this social distancing.

"Luckily for me a family from Chorley (the Coopers) came to help."

Mark said the owner of the dogs, a woman did not speak to him.

"I was in a right state anyway," he said. "Phil's son took details of this lady and got her mobile number."

He added: "It was a frightening experience. You don't think it's going to happen to you."

Mark said he had been taking care of his elderly mother,who suffers from Alzhiemer’s with vascular dementia, before setting off and was a little later than usual."

Cass's injuries included cuts ans bruising..

"She's a friendly little dog," he said. "We've done this walk for four years. You get to know dog walkers. I've seen this lady before and said hello.

"She had them on a lead, but she couldn't control them.

"It all happened so quickly."

After the attack Mark tweeted: "Nightmare of a day - Cass & I attacked by two dogs bullmastiff type, thankful to Phil owner of @copperstaxis & his family who came to our calls for help & who drove my car & wife Lynne took me to hospital. Cass really shaken & badly bruised & bitten, plenty of blood & bites."

"Thanks to Emergency care team @LancsHospitals for fixing me, now off to @ChorleyPolice to report - have to say my vets wont come out to see Cass - going to have to change them just about holding on - mum oblivious keeping it that way."

Mark is a current Lancashire county councillor, serving as an Independent on the Clayton with Whittle division in Chorley.

He is also a former Chorley borough councillor and a mayor of the town.

He quit Conservative Party and County Hall Tory group citing a lack of 'understanding and support'.

He said at the time: “Since 2015 life has had its struggles with ill health after two strokes and more recently become a full time carer looking after an my elderly mother who has Alzhiemer’s with Vascular dementia.

He spent 17 years as a borough councillor in Chorley and eight years before then as a town councillor in Horwich.