A DOG-attack victim today told of how close she came to losing an eye after being bitten on the face by an out-of-control pet.Mother-of-two Louise Gostling was knocked backwards by the large dog as it leapt up at her, causing her to drop her bag on the floor.

A DOG-attack victim today told of how close she came to losing an eye after being bitten on the face by an out-of-control pet.

Mother-of-two Louise Gostling was knocked backwards by the large dog as it leapt up at her, causing her to drop her bag on the floor.

As she bent down to pick it up, the dog went for her again and bit her face just below her left eye. The cut needed hospital treatment and three stitches.

Ms Gostling, 43, had been watching her son Andrew play rugby at Felixstowe Rugby Club in Mill Lane on his 18th birthday and along with her second son James, 16, was preparing to go on to a family celebration meal.

“Our whole day was wrecked - I had to spend four hours in casualty and I feel so robbed that all the plans we had to celebrate that special day were taken away from us,” she said.

“That dog very nearly bit my eye. It is a very dangerous dog and I am just so worried at what it could do to a child.

“After it knocked me backwards and then bit me, the woman owner said, 'It keeps doing that'.

“That dog should be taken away and given to someone who could train it and control it because she clearly couldn't.”

Ms Gostling, of Grange Road, Felixstowe, and who works as an office manager at a specialist home for the elderly, said the dog, which was on a chain, was jumping up at everybody.

“I was so shocked I didn't want to stay there and just wanted to get to my car after it bit me, but one of the rugby club officials said I needed the cut to be looked at and took me back into the clubhouse and gave me first aid, but it was decided I should go to hospital,” she said.

It is not known what kind of dog it was - though Ms Gostling said it looked like a catahoula leopard dog. It is believed to be a three-year-old female and was short-haired and dappled grey.

Police are appealing for the owner of the dog involved in the incident - which happened at 3.10pm on Saturday - to come forward.

She is described as possibly in her 40s, around 5ft 3in to 5ft 4in tall, of medium to large build, with short grey hair. Anyone who knows her should call Felixstowe police on 01473 613500.

What should be done about dogs that bite people? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk