Jermaine Pennant Suffers Leg Injury in Dog Attack

“Fui atacado por un pastor alemán al tratar de proteger a mi perro, pero el animal me agarró la pierna, me dejó en el suelo y no parecía que me fuese a soltar,” Jermaine Pennant said in a social media statement detailing a severe canine attack in London.

Former Real Zaragoza footballer Jermaine Pennant suffered severe injuries to his right leg after being attacked by a German Shepherd while walking his two dogs in London on a Friday, telecinco.es reported. The former footballer required fifty stitches in his tibia during a one-night hospital stay, crediting his American Akita, King, with saving his life during the incident.

The Attack and Hospitalization in London

The confrontation began when an aggressive German Shepherd targeted Pennant’s dog, King. Pennant stepped between the animals to shield his pet, prompting the German Shepherd to clamp onto his right leg and drag him to the ground. According to telecinco.es, the attacking dog clamped onto the former footballer’s tibia and refused to release its grip until King intervened.

King, an American Akita, engaged the attacking dog to pull it away from his owner. Pennant stated that watching his dog covered in blood during the scuffle left him terrified until he realized the blood belonged to the aggressor rather than his own pet. Emergency medical treatment at a London hospital required medical staff to administer 50 stitches to close deep lacerations on Pennant’s lower right leg. He spent one night under observation before being discharged to continue his recovery at home, later discussing the ordeal on his Talksport program.

Rescue and Recovery with American Akita King

Reflecting on the confrontation, Pennant emphasized that without King’s immediate defense, the outcome could have been fatal due to severe blood loss or permanent physical damage. Telecinco.es reported that King emerged from the fight entirely uninjured except for a minor scratch on one leg.

“King tuvo que intervenir, sin saber muy bien lo que estaba pasando. Se puso a luchar contra el perro y me salvó de una situación horrible para mí. King ha resultado ileso con un pequeño rasguño en la pierna, pero estaba cubierto de sangre,” Pennant said in his public statement. Since returning from the hospital, the former footballer noted that his dog has remained constantly by his side. “Mi héroe, todavía me protege y trata de cuidarme. King, eres una leyenda, te amo. El mejor amigo del hombre,” Pennant added, while also thanking his partner for nursing both of them through the aftermath.

Police Investigation Status

Despite the severity of the mauling and the extensive medical intervention required, English authorities have not received a formal complaint regarding the incident. Telecinco.es confirmed that the former Real Zaragoza player chose not to report the attack to the English police.