The pooch, Bruno, was subjected to a horrific attack in which the two animals pinned him to the ground and could have killed him if his owner hadn’t intervened.
In the attack, Bruno had the muscle which connects his front leg to his chest almost torn off and he required 40 internal stitches.
The injuries were so severe that Bruno’s owners were told by the vet who operated on him that he would have died if not for the life-saving emergency surgery carried out in the wake of the attack.
His owner, 48-year-old Ian Hamilton, of Bramfield, claims Bruno was attacked by a Rottweiler and an Akita.
The incident took place on the morning of Sunday April 27 when he was walking five-year-old Bruno and his other Labrador, Rocky, who is nine, in the fields near his home.
Mr Hamilton said: “It was truly horrific, I have never seen anything like it.
“The Rottweiler and Akita just jumped on Bruno without any provocation and were going at him from the front and back.”
Mr Hamilton said he was thankful his seven-year-old daughter Maddie was not with him at the time.
“If she had been there I shudder to think what could have happened. The two dogs could have got hold of her,” he said.
Fortunately, Maddie, who usually accompanies her father and the dogs on walks, had been at a sleepover at her friend’s house.
Maddie’s mother, Liz Hamilton, 42, told the Mercury the safety of their daughter and other children was their biggest concern.
Mrs Hamilton said: “Bruno and Rocky are lovely, friendly dogs and we go to massive efforts to make sure everyone is safe around our dogs and I think it’s terrifying some people don’t do the same.”
Bruno has been making steady progress in his recovery.
“Externally he looks fine but internally his muscles have to heal and get back into place,” said Mrs Hamilton.
“Psychologically we don’t know how he is doing – the ordeal was pretty horrendous – but he appears happy and bouncy, but that’s just his nature.
“We haven’t introduced him to many other dogs since the attack because we want his wounds to heal.”
The family have called for the Rottweiler and Akita in question to be destroyed and for aggressive dogs to be kept on the lead and be muzzled when out in public.
The matter has been referred to the police and anyone with any information regarding the attack can call the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference number A6/14/237.
(Hertfordshire Mercury - May 21, 2014)
