'˜It was horrifying' - Sunderland sisters' warning after they're attacked by same dog minutes apart

Janis Taylor and Lynne Moore were left injured by an Akita-type dog in the Tunstall Bank area of Ryhope.

Janis was out with her two young sons Jackson, 11, and Maxwell Lamb, nine, and just yards from home, when the animal bounded over and sunk its teeth into her arm.

Fearing for her life, Janis called on both boys to run away.

While she was on her way to Sunderland Royal Hospital for treatment, Janis was contacted by her sister Lynne to say she had also been attacked by the same dog a short time later.

Police have contacted the family to say that, as of yet, no one has been charged over the attacks.

Northumbria Police have confirmed that they have been investigating the attacks, but as yet have been “unsuccessful” in tracking down who they believe to be the dog’s owner.

Janis, 39, has since shared pictures of her and Lynne’s injuries on Facebook in a bid to warn others.

She said: “I just want to warn people that this dog is out there somewhere.

“We were out walking with our American bulldog Bullseye when we saw this dog. It was coming towards us, so I told my eldest lad to take Bullseye back.

“It raced over and jumped up at my face so I threw my arm out to get my son out of the way. The boys ran off and that’s when the dog chomped on to my arm. My kids said that the dog was shaking me but I can’t remember. They were hysterical.”

Bullseye barged into the dog causing it to run off, with people then gathering around to offer assistance.

Janis says her sister, Lynne, 35, was injured close by – and claims it was the same animal – while out with her children Leland, nine, and Darcy, six.

She said: “Lynne grabbed Darcy and turned away from the dog and it nipped her on the back of her arm before she got away.”

Janis needed four stitches and two butterfly clips and was also given antibiotics for her injuries, while Lynne suffered a puncture wound to her arm.

The incidents both happened on June 21.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “Police have carried out inquiries to locate the dog believed to have been involved in these incidents along with any potential owner.

“Despite these efforts, this has so far proven unsuccessful.

“However, we would still encourage anyone who has more information about this incident, or the owner of the dog responsible, to come forward and contact police on 101 quoting crime number 081772P/18.

“While we appreciate that the majority of dog owners do act responsibly, we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of their duty to ensure that their pets are kept under control at all times.”