A Green Party activist has urged candidates against putting fingers through letter boxes while delivering leaflets after part of hers was bitten off by a dog.
Danica Priest, who is running to be a councillor for Filwood ward in Bristol, was delivering campaigning material when the animal chewed off her fingertip.
She said that the incident was a ‘lesson’ to fellow campaigners to be careful when putting fliers through people’s letterboxes, and for dog owners to keep their pets under control.
Ms Priest said her injury was ‘manageable’, with the pet owner having done ‘everything’ they could to help, even driving the bitten off part of her finger on ice to the hospital.
But the environmental campaigner will have to continue her campaign with rather less of her hand, after doctors confirmed it could not be re-attached.
Green activist Danica Priest warned fellow campaigners against putting their fingers into letterboxes while delivering fliers after hers were bitten off by a dog
Ms Priest wrote in a post on Saturday that the pet owner had been ‘incredibly apologetic’ after what she called a ‘freak accident’ and even rushed over to hospital with the broken finger on ice
Danica Priest, who is running to be a councilor in the Filwood area of Bristol, was left in hospital after a dog took the end of her digit off. Pictured: Danica (right) with friend Ellie Freeman
The candidate in the Bristol City Council elections told the BBC that the incident was ‘scary’ and that despite feeling nothing when she pulled her finger out, there was blood ‘everywhere’, which she tried to stop using the leaflets.
She said that she wouldn’t prosecute the owner, who she described as ‘incredibly apologetic’, but added that police were required to investigate if the dog was a dangerous breed.
In a post on Saturday morning, she wrote: ‘Waiting for surgery. I was supposed to be helping out with an Easter egg hunt today instead.’
The activist is already looking to get back on the streets – telling one fellow-campaigner she would still be up for joining them in their leafleting.
After her ‘freak accident’ Ms Priest said: ‘Leafleting took a dark turn today unfortunately. I have sadly lost half of my finger and am in the hospital waiting to see if they can attach it again.’
The environmental activist will have to continue her campaign with rather less of her hand, after doctors confirmed it could not be re-attached
In an update on her social media, she added: ‘Sadly my finger can’t be reattached but it’s just the tip above the first joint that’s gone.
‘Just got X-rays to see how the bone is and will be getting antibiotics and probably surgery soon.’
And in another post, she continued: ‘Thanks for all the kind words everyone I really appreciate it.
‘Looks like it’s going to be a long night at the hospital but I’m doing ok.
‘The painkillers are working well but the bleeding hasn’t stopped yet so I’m still very bloody.’
Ms Priest, a US-born ultra-marathon runner, has been instrumental in a series of environmental campaigns in the city.
She battled to protect Brislington Meadows and and a nature-rich area of the city called Yew tree Farm.
Speaking to supporters, the activist confirmed that it was dog that attacked her through the letterbox while she was delivering leaflets.
Ms Priest, a US-born ultra-marathon runner, has been instrumental in a series of environmental campaigns in the city. Pictured: Bristol City Council
She lost the tip of the finger to the hound in a vicious injury that has not yet stopped bleeding.
Her followers reacted in horror to the gruesome news.
One, called Alice, said: ‘You poor thing! This was my greatest fear when leafleting. I hope you’re ok.’
Liberal Democrat candidate Caroline Gooch added: ‘Sorry to read that. Noone should be maimed using a letterbox.
‘If people have bitey dogs they should have a letterbox cage or external letterbox.’
And a third, Tash, continued: ‘Oh poor you, wishing you better.
‘Old trick, take wooden spoon to push leaflets through/hold letter boxes open.’
Announcing her candidacy for the council, she said: ‘With everything that happened at Yew Tree Farm I’m just so tired of injustice!
‘If you told me two years ago that I’d be running for council I would not believe you – I’d never intended to go into politics, I’m definitely not a career politician.
‘I was just a normal citizen that just loved nature and running and has a strong sense of justice.’
One of her key rivals for the seat – Nick Haskins (pictured) – famously vowed to squat in the former Filwood Broadway Cinema for ‘as long as it takes’ to stop its demolition
But the wannabe-councillor, whose grandfather helped in the construction of the building, left after a few hours
She added: ‘It’s going to be an interesting ride. I know a lot of people are watching this for good and bad – I’ve made a lot of enemies in my campaigning – and everything is going to be flung at me, it already has been.
‘But I’m up for it. Bring it! I’m ready to fight!’
The area has traditionally been a Labour stronghold, but it has the lowest voter turnout of anywhere in Bristol.
One of her key rivals for the seat – Nick Haskins – famously vowed to squat in the former Filwood Broadway Cinema for ‘as long as it takes’ to stop its demolition.
But the wannabe-councillor, whose grandfather helped in the construction of the building, left his spot after a few hours. He had already stepped out once to get a cake from a nearby shop.
‘There’s no point in me going in there and sitting in a building that ain’t going down yet,’ he told B24/7.
‘I’ve put the awareness out there that I’ve been in there and I will be back. I got the security sussed, I’ll be in there no problem.’
He added: ‘It wasn’t too cold, it was nice. I had a little walk around and went on the roof and had a lie down in the sun.’