Devoted greyhound mascot Corporal Tilly to receive award after surviving horrific attack

A greyhound who serves as a military memorial mascot is to receive an award after recovering from a dog attack at Wistlandpound Reservoir which left her with life-threatening injuries.

Corporal Tilly, the mascot for the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient (TMYS), was attacked at the beauty spot near Blackmoor Gate by an out of control dog on April 6 while out walking with her owner and handler Chris Lock.

It left her with a punctured thorax needing four chest drains and a dinner plate-sized flap of skin ripped from her ribs which needed urgent vet care and took a long time to recover from.

In recognition of Tilly’s resilience and courage to pull through the president of the TMYS, Lieutenant General (Retd) David Leakey CMG CVO CBE, will present her with a brooch to mark her distinguished service.

Above: Corporal Tilly has since made a full recovery from the injuries she suffered after being mauled by an out of control, dog at Wistlandpound Reservoir. Credit: Chris Lock

Corporal Tilly is also an ambassador for the National Greyhound Trust and Russet Greyhound Sanctuary, as well as the TMYS, which is a memorial founded in Belgium by Chris and his partner Milena Kolarikova to honour the tank crews and soldiers who died during the Great War in the heavy fighting around Ypres.

The dog which attacked Corporal Tilly was described as a black and white ‘spaniel cross’ walking with a man and a woman, but despite a police appeal, they were never identified.

Chris, a former tank crewman in 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, said he and Milena were delighted and grateful Gen Leakey would be presenting her with an award and said it was ‘richly deserved’.

He said following the attack Corporal Tilly’s wounds had not seemed too serious, but on receiving treatment and going into surgery, vets discovered they were worse than first thought.

Chris said: “It was discovered a flap of skin about the size of a large dinner plate had been pulled away from her ribcage and had become detached.

“Her thorax had been punctured, with several ribs being bitten. A total of four chest drains plus an IV line was inserted to drain fluids and administer drugs.

“She was lucky to get through this without suffering complications. She also had to cope simultaneously with an ulcerated weight bearing rear leg toe, which refused to heal and amputation was very much on the cards.

“It was only due to the amazing innovative treatments offered by her brilliant vet, Simon White of White Lodge Veterinary Clinic in Minehead, that she pulled through and has since made a full recovery.”

Above: Corporal Tilly is able to go back on parade. Credit: Chris Lock

Chris said it was a large vet bill which they paid up front and insurance covered in due course, but many well-wishers had offered to help with the cost and he said their kindness and generosity had been outstanding.

Above: General David Leakey will present Corporal Tilly with her distinguished service award at some point in the near future. Credit: Chris Lock

Gen Leakey also paid tribute to her, praising her ‘remarkable fortitude’ and the contributions she makes to good causes. He said: “Her recovery is in great part testament to the skills of the veterinary team who treated her and also in great part to the love and care of Chris Lock and Milena Kolarikova her owners and handlers.

“But her recovery is also testament to her personal fortitude and her trust in those who have supported and cared for her. Cpl Tilly, in her own canine way, has given an exemplary demonstration of the values which underpin our human, military and civil community spirit.”

Although some time has passed, if anyone has any information about the dog attack that injured Corporal Tilly on the afternoon of Sunday, April 6, they can still call police on 101, quoting reference 50250087416.