Denise Wilkinson was walking with her husband and two children when their Irish red and white setter, Bertie, was mauled by another dog.
The seven-year-old suffered a 10cm gash to his ear following the incident involving a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which occurred at Chelwood Vachery, near Nutley, on Saturday, September 24.
"I was quite shaken up afterwards," Mrs Wilkinson said. "It concerns me that it might happen again. It just makes me worry, because if I was stood in the way, it could have gone for me instead.
"This sort of thing is really upsetting and I wouldn't want it to happen to anyone else."
The family said Bertie laid down when he saw the other dog running at him due to his "submissive" character, having been attacked when he was younger.
Mrs Wilkinson, from Crowborough, added: "We didn't get the owner's details, as I was covered in blood and we were more concerned about getting back to the car.
"We had to get him home and up to the vets quickly, before they closed."
The family was initially forced to pay the £185 vet's bill, but the owner of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier has since come forward and offered to pay the costs.
Tracy Buxton, of the Ashdown Forest Centre, who spoke to the dog's owner said: "He was extremely sorry about what happened and was genuinely unaware that his dog had caused any damage to Bertie – he appeared really shocked when I told him."
Mrs Wilkinson said she is grateful for the man's offer, but still believes dog owners should be responsible for their pets.
"Any dog that is a potential threat to another dog or person should always be walked on a lead and possibly muzzled if they are aggressive," she said.
"Bertie is even more nervous of other dogs now and I'll be more wary of letting him go off in the future," she added.
(East Grinstead Courier and Observer - October 06, 2011)
