Child watches in terror as mum attacked by dog

UNITED KINGDOM -- A child watched in terror as her mother was attacked by an "enormous" dog – believed to belong to a city councillor.

The incident happened last night in Squires Way, Heatherton.

Neighbours said that the mother and daughter, aged about seven, had been walking their dog when it was attacked by a greyhound at 6.15pm.

They said the greyhound was with an Alsatian and that neither was with an owner.

Rolls-Royce worker David Jack, who ran outside and tried to pull the greyhound off the dog, said the woman suffered bites to her hand.

Mr Jack said: "I had just come home from work. I came into the house and I heard screaming outside.

"I thought it was children at first. It went on for quite some time, so I came to the front door and saw a dog with its teeth around another dog's neck.

"The owner of the dog being attacked was screaming. I ran over and all I did was try to pull the dog off. It didn't have a collar so it was hard to get a grip.

"The woman was bitten on her hand. She was with her daughter, who was terrified. A passer-by stopped and told her to get in the car so she'd be safe."

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "There was this dreadful commotion – screaming, shouting and barking. I turned down the TV and realised there was a kerfuffle outside.

"I came to the front window and saw two enormous dogs. A neighbour had come out and taken control of the situation. He separated the dog from the one being attacked.

"The little girl was hiding in a hedge. She was terrified. Someone came along and let her get in their car.

"It was quite horrific. The lady suffered a deep wound on her hand. An ambulance came and took the woman to hospital.

"She was very upset and said she wanted the dog that attacked her dog to be put down. The girl was fine afterwards. She seemed quite calm."

Last night, Normanton councillor Balbir Sandhu, who lives about a mile away in Field Rise, Littleover, said he feared the greyhound and Alsatian involved in the incident were his dogs.

He said: "My dogs went missing at about six o'clock. My dad opened the gate and didn't close it. He has had two strokes and it's affected his memory.

"My guess is it is my dogs. It's terrible – I want the woman to know I am very sorry and I will do everything I can to help her."

Speaking at 7.30pm – more than an hour after the attack – Mr Sandhu said that his dogs were still missing. He said: "I'm in contact with the police. We're still looking for them."

A police spokeswoman confirmed that they were investigating a dog attack but, when contacted at 9.30pm, could not confirm whether or not Mr Sandhu's dogs had been found.

(Derby Telegraph - Sept 7, 2013)