Danica Priest, a Bristol Green Party council candidate, lost part of her fingertip to a dog bite during a campaign incident, sparking discussions on the safety of political canvassing.
A Bristol Green Party council candidate, Danica Priest, experienced a traumatic injury while canvassing in the Filwood ward for the upcoming local elections on May 2nd. Ms. Priest lost part of her fingertip to a dog bite through a letterbox as she was distributing campaign leaflets. Despite the swift action taken to get her to the hospital, the damaged fingertip could not be reattached, leading to reconstructive surgery. Ms. Priest described the incident as a “dark turn” in her campaign, highlighting it as a shocking accident rather than an act of aggression. The dog’s owners have claimed the dog is not typically aggressive, and Ms. Priest has stated she does not plan to press charges, considering the event a “freak accident.”
The incident has sparked a conversation among campaigners about the inherent risks of political canvassing, especially when delivering leaflets manually. There have been calls for increased safety measures, including the use of tools like spatulas to avoid direct contact with letterboxes. Fellow Green Party members and colleagues have expressed their well wishes for Ms. Priest’s speedy recovery and emphasized the importance of safety precautions during campaigning activities. Ms. Priest herself has advocated for awareness and prevention, urging both campaigners and dog owners to take steps to avoid such unfortunate events in the future.
