A woman has been left traumatised after her dog was mauled by a pack of seven hounds during their daily walk.
Kirstie Snowdon let her Jackawawa, Toby Carvery, off the leash in South Moor Park, County Durham, when a male dog approached them.
She thought he was going to play with Toby but was horrified when he began to attack the eight-year-old Jack Russell-Chihuahua crossbreed.
Then six other dogs, who were also being walked by the same woman, joined in.
‘Toby started running and then this Labrador cross had a hold of him by the back legs. He was swinging his whole body from side-to-side like a rag doll,’ Ms Snowdon said.
‘I ran up and got in amongst it because my first reaction was to save my baby.
Kirstie Snowdon let her Jackawawa, Toby Carvery, off the leash in South Moor, County Durham, when a male dog approached them
She thought the male dog was going to play with Toby but was horrified when he began to attack the eight-year-old Jack Russell-Chihuahua crossbreed
‘I literally pulled him from the other dog’s mouth. He was bleeding and squealing like you wouldn’t believe. It was horrible.
‘I cannot get the picture out of my head. It was traumatising.’
She claimed that the woman refused to give her name or contact details so she issued a plea on Facebook and was passed them by a concerned member of the public.
Ms Snowdon then took her beloved pup to the PDSA in Gateshead where they treated his wounds and gave him painkillers and antibiotics.
She said the attack has had a lasting impact on Toby.
She said: ‘My son got a toy out for him to play with but he just came over to cuddle up with me. He is not the same dog.’
Ms Snowdon contacted the police and an officer from Durham Constabulary came out to see her on Friday morning.
‘They have said all that they can do is log it and give a warning because it was ‘dog on dog,’ she added.
‘I understand there are laws in place but I don’t think it is very fair because it was seven dogs on one tiny dog.
Ms Snowdon and her dog Toby were walking in South Moor Park (pictured) when he was attacked
‘The next time it could be a kid or an even smaller dog. I just hope the owner has learned something from it.’
A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: ‘Police were called just after 9.10pm on January 26 by a woman reporting her dog had been attacked by a group of dogs at around 3.30pm that afternoon.
‘The incident happened in South Moor Park, near Stanley.
‘Officers have agreed to speak to the suspect regarding the incident.’