- Oct 16, 2026
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Former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant, 43, needed more than 50 stitches to his leg after being attacked by a German shepherd in a north London park.
Pennant was walking his American Akita, King, off lead when the incident occurred. The attacking dog left four bite marks on Pennant's right leg during an assault that lasted at least five seconds. King intervened and fought off the German shepherd, sustaining only a small nip to his leg. The Akita was covered in blood, though none of it was his own, and stood by Pennant's side until help arrived.
Pennant took an Uber to the hospital. King was unhurt aside from the minor nip.
Pennant played in the Premier League for Arsenal, Liverpool, Leeds United, Birmingham City, Portsmouth and Stoke, and also appeared in LaLiga for Villareal. He said of his pet: "He saved my life."
Source: ESPN - Mon Oct 26, 4:25 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).