Four people have been taken to hospital with injuries from a dog attack after three animals came to blows on a beach.
Cops have launched an investigation after the incident, which reportedly involved a Siberian husky and two bulldog-type pooches, on Redcar beach at the weekend. Marie Hay, the husky's owner, claims she has been left with a £14,000 vet bill after six-year-old Naevia was left with life-changing injuries in the attack.
The 40-year-old told the Mirror that the other two dogs had approached as their owner claimed they were "friendly" - before the allegedly savage incident unfolded. Police say they are assessing the incident after receiving counter-claims from the other dogwalker.
Marie, from Nunthorpe, North Yorkshire said: "[The] dog came over and sniffed my dog, and then done a little scuffle and made a noise and then just jumped on her and bit her face and wouldn't let go.
"So [the owner] came running over to try and get the dog, but his dogs had no collars or leads on, they didn't have harnesses or leads, nothing at all. So there was no way of grabbing them to get them off."
The horror allegedly continued as the second dog ran over and leapt on Naevia as members of the public rushed to May's aid. Over 10 minutes, several people were reportedly injured trying to pin the animals down.
Marie and her 20-year-old daughter Jessica had to be treated for their bite wounds, with the latter needing antibiotics and a tetanus injection. Naevia spent several days undergoing surgery.
She added: "Them dogs kept coming and coming and coming and what they've done is they've punctured her skin and pulled it that much that it's almost like an autopsy. They've severed the skin that badly off her chest that they've had to remove the skin from her chest to get to her muscles and all of her muscles are dying and going black.
"She's had to be fully shaved, she's got multiple lacerations on her face, on her neck she's got multiple bite wounds where they've gone for the kill. She's got bite marks down her back legs and backside, a slash underneath her armpit where the dog literally was playing tug of war with her leg and trying to pull her leg off."
Marie has now launched a GoFundMe page to raise the money needed to save her 'gorgeous' dog's life. She added: "I am a responsible dog owner [so she is insured] but not for one second do you think it will cost more than £4,000 if something happens. The cap on the insurance is £4,000 per event."
A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: "Police were called to the beach near the caravan park at Redcar just after 3pm on Sunday, 5th February to a report of a dog attack by two bulldog-type pets on a husky. Officers attended the scene and took initial details including a counter allegation from the bulldogs' owner.
"It's understood at least one dog received veterinary treatment and a man and three women attended hospital for treatment - primarily for hand injuries. As part of ongoing inquiries we are obtaining more detailed accounts as well as details of any confirmed injuries to the dogs and people involved.
"Police have already spoken to a number of independent witnesses but would appeal for anyone who saw the incident or who may have footage of it to contact Cleveland Police on 101."
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