Beechwood grandmother is left distraught after beloved pet is savaged in street

UNITED KINGDOM -- A woman wishes a dog had attacked her instead of her beloved Yorkshire terrier.

Barbara Saunders, from Beechwood in Middlesbrough, was on an early morning walk with Susie, her 13-year-old Yorkie, on Tuesday when a Staffordshire bull terrier attacked her dog.

“This dog just came round the corner and it had her head in its mouth,” said Barbara, who lives with her husband, Charlie, and grandchildren, Taylor, 11, Amelia, nine, and Mackenzie, five.

“She’s nearly lost an eye and she was bit on her ear and the back of her head. She is a wreck. She had to be put to sleep to have her stitches.”

The 54-year-old, who is frustrated that the Staffie’s owner refused to give her details and that the police can’t help her, wishes it was her who had been attacked instead.

“If it had attacked me then something would be done about it,” said Barbara.

“The police told me it was a dog on dog attack so there was nothing they could do. She must live on our estate somewhere and I want to warn other people about her dog. I dread to think what would have happened if it had been my grandchildren walking her or they had been with me at the time.”

Barbara said both dogs were off their leads at the time of the attack on Stanmore Avenue.

“Susie is old so she stays by my side so there’s no need for a lead for her,” she said.

“I’m glad she wasn’t otherwise it could have been a lot worse if she hadn’t got away. The owner was saying ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’.

“I had to keep punching and kicking the dog. As soon as the dog let go the woman ran away with her dog.”

Since the attack Barbara has returned to the vet’s for more treatment for Susie. The bill has reached more than £100 so far.

“She has been so shaky since it happened; she won’t leave me alone, she follows me everywhere,” said Barbara.

“She can’t eat, she can’t sleep. The grandkids have been upset about it, going to school worrying about her. The attack actually happened on the morning of Taylor’s birthday.”

Susie was originally Barbara’s sister’s dog but when she died Barbara took her in.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “A dog on dog attack is not a recordable offence. Unless it’s an attack on an individual then the police cannot intervene.”

[So I guess she should have stuck her hand in and been bitten and THEN the police would give a you-know-what.]

(Gazette Live - Sept 21, 2013)