A teenage boy from West Yorkshire is facing the potential loss of a finger after a horrific dog attack that left the bone in his hand 'completely crushed'.
A Walk to Grandma's Turns to Terror
Kobie Pollard was just 15 years old when the incident occurred on July 17, 2024. He was walking to his grandmother's house in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, when a Perro de Presa Canario, also known as a Canarian Mastiff, jumped over a garden fence and launched itself at him.
The powerful dog initially went for Kobie's face. In a split-second act of self-defence, the teenager raised his hands to protect himself. The dog then seized his hand in its jaws, biting down with such force that it crushed the bone and tried to drag Kobie into the garden.
Miraculously, Kobie managed to break free from the animal's grip. His family immediately called for an ambulance to rush him to hospital for emergency treatment.
Severe Injuries and a Gruelling Recovery
Kobie's mother, Sarah Pollard, described the shocking extent of her son's injuries. "His tendon was hanging out of his hand," she said. "The bone on his ring finger is completely crushed."
Now 16, Kobie has undergone two major surgeries in the year since the dog attack. The first operation was to close the severe wound. The second procedure involved inserting a wire into his knuckle in a bid to save the shattered bone.
That wire has since been removed, leaving the knuckle bone floating in his hand. Kobie's medical journey is far from over; he attends hospital appointments with a hand specialist nearly every two weeks.
Doctors have presented him with two stark options: amputate the finger or attempt a bone transplant from his foot. However, the family has been told the transplant is unlikely to be a viable solution.
Lasting Trauma and Legal Outcome
The physical scars are matched by deep psychological wounds. Sarah Pollard spoke of the profound change in her son. "The boy that he was a year ago to the boy he is now, mentally, it's crushing to see," she said. "It's completely flipped him upside down. He's gone from being a very loud, outgoing person to somebody who stays in his room. He's struggling in all shapes and forms."
The dog involved in the Kirklees incident was subsequently destroyed. Its owner, Jemma Hampton, was arrested and appeared at Kirklees Magistrates' Court on May 12.
She was ordered to pay compensation to Kobie, totalling £1,400 in £40 monthly instalments.
The case highlights the devastating and long-term consequences that dangerous dogs can have on victims and their families, extending far beyond the initial attack.
