A PENSIONER was left battered and bruised after a vicious dog attack.
Sheila Beattie was walking King Charles Spaniel Mitzy in Blyth, Northumberland, when they were set upon by an enormous American Bulldog.
The 67-year-old, of Humford Green, Blyth, had taken three-year-old Mitzy out for her normal walk.
“We were going past Asda when we passed an enormous dog being walked by a little girl,” she said.
“I had a funny feeling about it and asked her to keep a tight hold of her dog.
“We crossed the road, and the next thing I knew I was knocked over. I thought I had been hit by a bus.”
Sheila was sent sprawling to the ground and knocked unconscious. She woke to see the dog clamping its jaws around tiny Mitzy’s neck and mauling her.
“I was in shock,” said Sheila. “Mitzy struggled at first but then she went still. I thought she was dead. Everyone around was screaming.”
Fortunately, dog breeder and groomer Michelle Pink saw what happened.
Michelle, who has bred American Bulldogs in the past and now runs Second To None dog grooming, dashed to the rescue.
“I saw the dog run at Sheila. When it jumped its paws were up to her shoulders,” said Michelle, 27.
“It jumped all over her trying to get at the King Charles Spaniel, who was cradled underneath her.
“I was on my bike and I came over and ran at its head but it barely took any notice. That breed of dogs was bred to chase cattle, so they have a high tolerance for kicks and pain.”
