Jermaine Pennant needs 50 stitches after being mauled by dog in vicious attack

Jermaine Pennant required more than 50 stitches after a dog bit his leg during a vicious attack. The former Arsenal and Liverpool winger was thankfully saved by his own dog, King. Pennant needed to be taken to hospital following the incident in north London on Friday. The 43-year-old had been walking both of his dogs when he was confronted by a German Shepherd. His dogs had been off their lead, including American Akita King, who had been targeted by the other dog. Pennant injured in dog attack Speaking to The Sun, Pennant explained: “ It was really scary . The other dog had a go at King, so I stepped in to protect him. “The next thing I know, it was attacking me. I was on the floor and it was on my leg for at least five seconds. “I felt this huge pressure. Imagine the force of a dog bite. King jumped in to protect me. “The two dogs were really going at it, and then King stood by my side until help arrived. “He saved my life. If King had been a smaller dog, there would have been no chance.” Following the attack, Pennant’s girlfriend Mimmi Montgomery booked him an Uber to A&E, where he was treated for his injuries. The talkSPORT pundit had been left with four bite wounds on his right leg. He was subsequently told he may require plastic surgery on one of the wounds, with doctors keeping him in hospital overnight on Friday. Pennant added that he declined to report the attack to the police. He admitted: “It’s just one of those things. I’m fine, the dog’s fine. It’s all good.” The report adds that police-recorded instances of out-of-control dog attacks causing injury reached 29,400 last year. It represents an 83 per cent increase from 2020, when 16,040 were recorded. However, those figures exclude unreported incidents, with the true amount even higher. Pennant retired from football aged 35 in 2018 following a senior career which spanned 17 years. The former England Under-21 international made 231 Premier League appearances for Stoke City , Liverpool, Birmingham City, Leeds United , Portsmouth and Arsenal.