Robert Sutherland, 51, was out walking his dog Jasper on Sunday morning in Ham Woods when he witnessed his nine-year-old pet get "tossed around like a rag-doll" in the jaws of a dog, thought to be a Staffordshire-bull terrier.
PC Riley, the officer dealing with the attack, said: "We believe the offending dog was a black Staffordshire-bull terrier called 'Ty' who has a white patch on the right side of his face. The owner of the offending dog is thought to live locally and we have witnesses who have said they have seen a dog of a similar description attacking before.
"The other dog, Jasper, has had numerous stitches to his throat and neck where it is believed Ty ripped it open. And the owner has already had to pay out over £200 in vets bills.
"This is one of the worst dog attacks I have ever seen. We are appealing for witnesses to come forward and help us to identify where the owner of the bull-terrier lives."
The incident happened at around 11am on Sunday near the entrance to the woods on Dryburgh Crescent.
Mr Sutherland, who had to fight the bull-terrier off, said: "Jasper likes to chase his ball – he doesn't bother anyone else. I had thrown it for him and as he chased it the bull-terrier came up and attacked him from behind. I managed to get him off and then he lunged again and got Jasper by the ear. Again I fought off the vicious dog but he lunged forward a third time and this time got him by the throat.
"Jasper was on death's door – his eyes were rolling back in his head and his tongue went blue. I literally had to fight the dog off myself to release his jaw from around Jasper's throat.
"I finally freed him and picked him up and ran. A nearby resident had seen the attack and let me examine Jasper in his house before I took him straight to the emergency vets.
"It was the worst thing I have witnessed in my life. My dog was dying in front of me – the vet said I saved his life by intervening, but I was terrified, I didn't know if the dog would turn on me."
Jasper is now back at home recovering with his family. But the attack has had a resounding affect on Mr Sutherland.
He said: "I will definitely not walk Jasper in Ham Woods until the other dog is destroyed. I'm just glad it was me with him at the time and not my son.
"I will undoubtedly be nervous when walking Jasper now – seeing him attacked like that was horrendous. I'd hate this to happen to anyone else and hope the owner of the dog responsible comes forward."
Anyone with information relating to the attack, or anyone who knows the dog responsible for causing Jasper's injuries, is asked to call police on 101 quoting log 299 of 08/04/12, crime reference number ED/12/2022.
(Plymouth Herald - April 11, 2012)
