A Green Party parliamentary candidate had the tip of his finger bitten off by a dog while posting leaflets while campaigning for a local election.

Danica Priest was handing out leaflets in Bristol before the May 2 vote when the dog attacked her as she put party literature into her letterbox.

The dog’s owners later returned to find Ms Priest’s fingertips in their home, alongside a blood-stained leaflet.

Recalling the harrowing incident in a post on X, she wrote: “Unfortunately, the Flyers took a dark turn today.

“I unfortunately lost half my finger and am now waiting in the hospital to see if they can reattach it. Luckily I have the amazing @EllieFreemanBS3 by my side who stopped everything and drove up to be with me.”

Green Party candidate for Filwood, Ms Priest tells us independent She underwent successful reconstructive surgery on Saturday.

She said she was now on the “road to recovery”, adding: “It wasn’t a difficult letterbox – I didn’t hear a dog behind the door”.

Ms Priest said she did not know what kind of dog attacked her, but the owner later told her it was not a dangerous dog like XL Bully and had no history of aggressive behaviour.

The dog owner was able to contact Ms Priest because she left her neighbor’s contact information.

Colleagues sent their best wishes and urged dog owners to make their letterboxes safer.

Emma Edwards, leader of Bristol MP’s Green Group, wrote on the

“Also, for all the civil servants who are currently handing out leaflets for local elections, the suggestion to use a spatula is no joke, using a spatula will save your fingers (in fact, my spatula was bitten by a dog and lost a corner).”

Bristol Green MP Patrick McAllister also wished Ms Priest a speedy recovery and warned campaigners to be careful when handing out leaflets.

“Hopefully Danica will recover quickly; this is a serious injury and very unfortunate,” he wrote on the X.

“A good reminder to all campaigners to use tools such as spatulas or wooden spoons to post leaflets. I had to take back my first spatula because of a dog bite.”