Alexa Kesselaar, of Orbain Road, Fulham, watched helplessly as her elderly lurcher was savaged by a Rottweiler which she says was one of 20 dogs being walked together on the common.
It took two people to prise the dog off 14-year-old Ruby, who was left with injuries that included broken ribs, a damaged spine and possibly a punctured lung.
“Her screams haunt me even now,” said Ms Kesselaar, 47. “She went into terrible shock, her eyes rolled back and blood was pouring from her. I thought she was dead. When we got to the vets, they couldn’t believe she was still alive.”
As she cares for her pet, Miss Kesselaar is demanding more is done to prevent similar attacks in future.
A walker is allowed a maximum of four dogs in parks in Putney and in Hammersmith and Fulham and Ms Kesselaar says wardens must enforce the rules more strictly. She also wants tougher legal penalties for owners of dogs that attack other dogs.
“Only humans are protected at the moment and it isn’t right,” she added. “Ruby could have died on the spot.”
Gordon Vincent, chief executive of Putney Common Rangers, said: “We are aware of the incident on Putney Lower Common and are helping Ms Kesselaar as much as we are able.
“We do have staff working and patrolling the common on a regular basis and we ensure the ‘Maximum of four’ by-law is enforced as much as possible. This was an exceptional incident and, fortunately, one that only happens very rarely on the common.”
(Fulham Chronicle - August 15, 2012)
