A woman has been left too scared to leave her house after her beloved dog was viciously attacked during a walk. Debbie Buckley, 63, was walking her miniature dachshund, Delilah, in Gresham Park in Old Woking, Surrey, when they were approached by two Staffordshire bull terriers.
Within seconds, the two dogs turned on little sausage dog Delilah, throwing her into the air before each grabbing an end of her body and biting down on her skin. "I was trying to pry open their jaws to get them off, which was impossible with two of them," Debbie told the Mirror.
"Eventually the owner arrived and I got them off.
"The owner was abusive to me and threatened to let them go again if my other dog didn't stop barking, who was traumatised seeing these dogs attack."
Knowing she was against the clock, Debbie rushed her two-year-old dog to the vets, where she underwent a three-hour operation.
Her chest was ripped open with lumps of muscle hanging loose. She also had a broken rip and bites all over her back and legs.
She said: "The vets thought I was having a heart attack and rang 111, but it was just shock. I have been totally traumatised by this. I haven’t left my house since and am too scared to walk her ever again."
It was touch and go for little Delilah for 48 hours - but thankfully she managed to pull through.
"We didn't think she would survive, it was touch and go but she’s done amazingly," she said.
"She's had two operations. Hopefully her stitches will be removed this week.
"Not only has it traumatised my dog but also me. I haven’t wanted to go on a walk since."
Debbie, who has been left with a £5,000 vet bill, claims this is the third time since July the two Staffordshire bull terriers have attacked another dog in the park.
She claims there has been no repercussions to the Staffie owner, who is continuing to walk her dogs as normal.
"What happened to the owner - nothing," said Debbie
"Just told to keep them on a lead and muzzle. This wasn’t even the first time they had attacked.
"If they had attacked wildlife apparently it would have been a different story.
"This is so wrong, the law needs to change.
"People need to be responsible for their dogs and aggressive dogs need to be taken away from their owners who have no control over them."
According to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (section 3), it's a criminal offence to allow your dog to be 'dangerously out of control'.
This can be defined as a dog that has injured another person or animal.
A government statement reads: "Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it injures someone, or makes someone worried that it might injure them.
"A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if it attacks someone's animal, or the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal."
Owners can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months if their dog is dangerously out of control.
They may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and their dog may be destroyed.
"If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined (or both). If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with 'malicious wounding', the statement adds.
"If you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine (or both)."
"If you allow your dog to injure an assistance dog (for example a guide dog) you can be sent to prison for up to three years or fined (or both)."
Debbie has launched a petition called 'Dog on dog attack' in an attempt to make the law even stricter. To support Debbie, visit her petition.
Do you think the law needs to change? Let us know in the comments below.
