Former Premier League footballer Jermaine Pennant has been left in a critical condition after being rushed to hospital after a dog bit him on the leg, leaving him with a deep gash. He was treated at the hospital and had 50 stitches to close the wound. He may also need plastic surgery to reconstruct the area of his ankle and minimise the appearance of the scars, according to reports.
What happened to Pennant? The attack on King's dog and then on himself
The attack occurred during a walk, when Pennant was walking his dog, an American Akita named King. Suddenly, a German shepherd, who was off-leash, lunged at his dog. The former Arsenal star intervened to separate the two dogs, but ended up seriously injured himself. He received four bites on the calf of his right leg, suffering deep and visible wounds. Since he could not walk, he enlisted the help of his partner, who transported him to the nearest emergency room, in a serious condition.
Pennant, today a respected sports commentator
Unfortunately, such cases are not isolated to England. According to data cited in the report, attacks by off-leash dogs on people have increased by around 70% from 2022 to 2026, with 10,700 hospital admissions recorded in 2026 alone.
Fortunately, in Pennant's case, the situation did not go further. Although he ended his career as a footballer in 2018, he has remained closely connected to the world of football. Today he works as a sports pundit and commentator for TalkSPORT, maintaining a close relationship with the public, not only with former Arsenal and Liverpool fans. This was also evidenced by the numerous reactions of support after his publication, where he told what had happened.
Pennant has filed a police report.
"He saved my life," Pennant said, referring to his dog King, as he recounted the incident in a statement to police, where he immediately reported the incident. He is currently doing well, as is his dog King, although the attack happened within moments and was an extremely frightening experience.
