Those were the words of a Grimsby couple after their beloved dog was brutally savaged by another while out walking in People's Park.
Trina Trapmore watched on with horror as her four-month-old springer spaniel puppy Barney was attacked, leaving it with serious injuries to its front legs
She told how he she had to kick the other dog, believed to be a terrier, to force it to stop.
Barney's front legs had to be stapled up after Trina and her partner Frank Bader took the injured animal to the vets.
Trina said: "We'd seen the dog earlier roaming about the park with its owner without a lead and it had left us alone but as we continued our walk it just came out of nowhere and went for Barney. It was terrifying.
"I had to physically kick the dog so he'd leave Barney alone and I was terrified it would go for me as well.
"I saw the owner coming over and he called it off and asked me if I'd just kicked his dog.
"I told him I had because it was attacking mine. He picked the dog up and cleared off. It really hurt Barney and we rushed him to the vet soon after it happened.
"The bite had pierced his front legs forcing the vet to staple the wounds together. He's resting at home now with a dog cone on to prevent him from licking his wounds, but it's really shaken him up. He'll probably be afraid to go back there now."
Trina and Frank now want to warn people about irresponsible dog owners not keeping dangerous dogs on a lead.
Frank said: "It could be a child next time.
"That dog really needed to be kept on a lead if it was that dangerous. It really hurt our dog and it could hurt someone else's if nothing is done to stop it. We would never let our dog off its lead if we knew it would do something like this. That dog should have been muzzled.
"It could happen again so we're warning people to be vigilant to the dangers out there."
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "Some dogs can become aggressive and bite other people or animals. Any dog can become dangerous in the wrong hands.
"That is why it is very important to ensure your dog is properly socialised with people and animals from a young age as well as trained and cared for, to keep it safe.
"Under the law any dog can be considered dangerous in any place if it is not kept under control. The dog doesn't have to bite anyone; it could just show aggressive behaviour that makes someone feel in fear for their safety.
"In these cases, the police may prosecute and the penalties can be very severe with up to 14 years in prison if a dog kills someone."
(Grimsby Telegraph - Feb 2, 2015)
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