Now the 16-year-old girl has been left traumatised after an unleashed German shepherd attacked her dog and then herself.
But it is the cowardly act of the bigger dog’s owner, who turned and left the scene after earlier promising to help, that has left Brittany’s mother, Lisa Carter, seeing red.
"It has really shattered her, she has lost every ounce of confidence," Ms Carter said.
"This person needs to man up - own up to his responsibilities."
Eight days ago, Brittany and Lilly, the family’s beloved terrier, were walking along Gregson Avenue at Mayfield West in what had become almost a daily ritual to give the teenager some feeling of independence.
The pair only ever walked a few houses up and down the street.
So when a bloodied Lilly returned home without the teenager, Ms Carter rushed outside fearing the worst.
What she found was Brittany with a bite mark to her hand and scratches to her arm.
"The dog had obviously attacked Lilly, and Brittany has picked her up to protect her and that is when it happened," Ms Carter said.
"Lilly had a couple of ribs broken and a punctured lung – but the guy said although he was from Warners Bay, his girlfriend lived around the corner."
Ms Carter said the man admitted his dog had attacked the pair and offered to pay for medical treatment and started following the Carters towards their house to exchange details.
But when they turned back around to talk to him, he was gone.
"What kind of man runs off like that," Ms Carter said.
"He needs to come back here and fix up what he and his dogs have done."
Newcastle City Council has been informed and have told Ms Carter they would look for the man, who had the German shepherd and another dog with him at the time of the incident.
In the meantime, Ms Carter said her daughter and family pet do not want to leave the house.
"They are petrified," she said.
(The Herald - May 28, 2013)
