A Leeds family has been left heartbroken after their dog was killed while she went out for her daily walk.
Tracey Logan, 51, left her home in Seacroft with her treasured Chihuahua cross Belle in the early hours of this morning, planning to fit in a morning walk for Belle before she had to go to work. They had barely begun the walk before Belle was attacked by two large dogs.
Tracey said the whole attack lasted just minutes, and she had to tragically watch little Belle, three, die in front of her. Tracey and her family have now been left devastated by the loss.
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Tracey told LeedsLive: "She was my baby girl and a part of the family. We're absolutely devastated. Everybody who knew her, all our neighbours and the people at her doggy day-care, they're all so upset.
"She was the sweetest, kindest, most loving little dog. She was so gentle and wouldn't hurt a fly or bite anyone. She was a pleasure to know - everyone who met her loved her. She was just a sweet family pet."
When Tracey, who lives in Seacroft with her husband and youngest son, and Belle set out on their walk early this morning, Wednesday October 12, Tracey said she spotted two large dogs behind a gate nearby. She hadn't seen the dogs before, and continued walking with Belle, thinking they were behind a gate.
But as they continued a bit further, Tracey said the dogs appeared from round a corner and began attacking little Belle.
"She was on a extendable lead and I tried to pull her back away from them," Tracey said. "But the dogs pulled her back and she came out of her collar. One of them got her in its mouth and shook her like a ragdoll. Then they both ran off with her and wouldn't let her go.
"Eventually two guys got the dogs to drop her but it was already too late and she was already dead. It was so quick, it was all over in just a couple of minutes. At least she didn't suffer for long but it's terrifying those dogs were able to do this so quickly. I found out her lung had been punctured by the bites afterwards."
Even though she knew Belle was already gone, Tracey took her to the vets, and also reported what had happened to the police. Police confirmed later on two dogs involved in an attack had been seized.
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "At 5:54am this morning police received a report of a dog attack in Eastdean Bank, Seacroft. Officers attended and seized two dogs. Enquiries are ongoing."
Tracey is appealing to all dog owners to be vigilant, and too anyone with dogs that can be vicious to keep them under control and not train them to attack.
She said: "We want to get the message across to people to control their dogs and don't train them to attack small creatures because this is what happens. If I can stop one person from going through what we have been through today that will be enough."
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