A disabled army veteran is in ‘fear of his life’ after he was beaten unconscious with a metal pole by two men while walking his dog.
George MacDonald, 60, was walking his German Shepherd, Kaiser, in Arbroath, Angus in Scotland just after 6am on August 9.
The Scots army veteran said Kaiser was playing with another dog who was off the lead.
After he retrieved his dog and apologised to the owner, he was met with verbal abuse.
Just moments later, the dog walker and another man, who appeared from a car armed with a metal pole, launched an unprovoked attack.
George MacDonald pictured with his wife Elizabeth and his German Shepher, Kaiser
Pictured, some of the injuries inflicted during the attack on August 9 in East Graveyard, Arbroath
Mr MacDonald, who uses a walking stick, was knocked unconscious and left with cuts and bruises to his arm and back after being beaten with the pole and also a dog ball thrower.
He said: ‘I can’t walk Kaiser there now, I’m in fear of my life.
‘I was smashed in the face with a pet ball launcher and it knocked my glasses off my face.
‘Kasier ran about 10ft away from us because he was frightened.
‘Then these two men hit me with a metal pole and the dog launcher and knocked me out.
‘I’m only 5ft 7 and I walk with a stick. They were around 6ft.
‘I’ve been left with cuts and bruises to my back, arms and stomach. I’ve damaged my neck too.’
Mr MacDonald suffers from PTSD after his time in the army, in which he served as a physical training instructor from 1981 until 1993 when he was medically discharged.
But now the veteran claims the attack has intensified his mental health issues.
He has also enrolled Kaiser in K-9 family protection training, in a bid to stay safe in the future.
Mr MacDonald said his mental health has deteriorated following the savage attack which left with him with injuries
The two men allegedly involved in the attack are believed to have been walking dogs in the area. The first male is described as white, about 6ft tall with short brown hair, a stocky build and spoke with a local accent.
He was seen wearing a black t-shirt with writing on it – possibly a heavy metal rock band name and grey joggers.
The second male is described as white, over 6ft tall with short brown hair, pale complexion, thin build and wearing a light blue tracksuit top and bottoms.
Police Scotland have not made any arrests.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: ‘Around 7.20pm on Saturday, 10 August, 2024, officers received a report of an assault in the Brechin Road area of Arbroath. Enquiries are ongoing.’
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting crime reference CR/295295/24.
