Former Premier League footballer Jermaine Pennant has revealed he needed more than 50 stitches after being mauled by a German Shepherd in north London last week. The 43-year-old former Liverpool and Stoke City winger was out walking his two dogs when the dangerous encounter occurred.
Pennant explained that the incident unfolded as he attempted to protect one of his pets, King. The German Shepherd latched firmly onto his right leg and refused to let go, dragging him to the floor. An even worse ordeal was prevented only when King stepped in to fight off the aggressive dog, with Pennant stating on Instagram that his pet's actions stopped "what could've been an horrendous situation."
The Talksport pundit subsequently received hospital treatment for four bite wounds, later confirming to The Sun that over 50 stitches were required to close the damage to his leg. While King sustained a minor nip, Pennant confirmed his dog was unhurt, though covered in blood that did not belong to either of them. Pennant chose not to report the attack to the police and did not provide details regarding the German Shepherd, instead sharing a picture on social media of his bandaged leg alongside King on a sofa while thanking his partner, Mimmi Montgomery, for looking after them both.
Pennant, who hailed his pet as a "hero" and a "legend" for coming to his rescue, stepped away from the sport in 2018. Over the course of a 19-year playing career, the winger accumulated 341 professional appearances, including 231 outings in the Premier League.