Welsh game designer bitten by stray dogs says 'I still love Bengaluru'

Bengaluru: Oliver Jones, a Welsh game designer and entrepreneur, has said he “still loves Bengaluru” despite being attacked by stray dogs while out for a run near Old Airport Road.

Two dogs followed him for 100 metres as he was running around Old Airport Road. One caught up to him at the old airport entrance and "took a chunk of my ankle", he recounted.

The incident came just a week after his wife narrowly escaped a similar attack during an evening run, prompting him to switch to daytime jogging.

His post on X recounting the attack went viral, garnering over 6.4 lakh views, 625 reposts, and 300 comments. He shared a hospital photo with a caption that read, “I love stray dogs. Especially the ones who join me on my runs in Bangalore.”

The post sparked mixed reactions — while some offered medical advice on rabies vaccination, others questioned why he continued to stay in India.

In response, Jones said he was “willing to go all the way” for what he believes in, especially considering he built two startups worth $100 million in Bengaluru, "after landing in a new country with only $300".  

He said the incident would not change his affection for Bengaluru or its people. “It’s not me against the world — I now have a community backing me,” he said.

Several X users highlighted that the incident underscores the city’s growing stray dog menace, noting that a foreign national's bite could spark greater awareness to the problem. Some others shared similar experiences of being chased or bitten.