A brutal attack saw a dog fighting for his life after the "worst injuries vets have seen".
Marj Lee-Perry, 73, was taking her dog Burt for their regular walk on Monday afternoon around Wavertree Technology Park. But what was a lovely stroll soon turned into disaster when three dogs "came out of nowhere" and grabbed two-year-old Burt, who was on a lead, viciously attacking him.
Daughter-in-law Katie said Burt, a much-loved Schnauzer, stood "no chance" as he was thrown around "like a game of tug of war". Despite passers-by helping to get him to the vets, he tragically died from his severe injuries.
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Katie told the ECHO: "She walks there every day. He was on a lead and she was walking when next minute she felt a tug and she was knocked down. When she got back up she saw three dogs had a hold of Burt. They didn't have collars on or leads."
Burt was rushed to the vets and underwent surgery for several hours. Despite being transferred to three different vets who all tried to save his life, his injuries were too severe.
Katie said she believes the attack lasted around 10 minutes while her mother-in-law Marj tried to fight them off. She added: "These were XL bullies, no-one could get hold of them because there were no collars or leads. It was like they were playing a game of tug of war, he even passed out.
"He was rushed to surgery right away, his heart was exposed and all of his internal organs were damaged. He had further surgery at another vets and they all said they'd never seen an attack like it. They said he shouldn't even be alive but he was fighting. It's the worst injuries vets have ever seen.
"His little manhood was destroyed as well meaning he wouldn't have been able to pee and the third vets said they had to put him to sleep because there was nothing they could do."
Katie said that Burt continues to fight and the family are refusing to give up on their beloved pet. She is urging dog owners to keep their pets on a lead and to ensure they are trained. She said: "It's important people know how to handle a pack of dogs, they are completely different to handling just one dog, you need to have that training.
"But also keep your dogs on leads at all times, no matter how good they are, they will take lead over you. We want people to know it's so important having their dogs fully trained because this could be a kid next.
"We put this on social media and it's gone mad, so many people are saying the same has happened to them in the area. My mother-in-law is devastated. It's awful.
"There's only her, her husband and the dog in the house and they take him everywhere with them. No dog deserves this but burt is the most sweetest; loving quiet boy."
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: "We are appealing for information following a report that three dogs attacked another dog in Wavertree Technology Park on Tuesday 7 March.
"We received a report that at around 12.20pm a woman was walking her dog called Bertie along Stephenson Way, near to the former Sony PlayStation building, when three dogs came from behind and attacked him.
"It was reported that the woman was knocked to the ground and Bertie, a Schnauzer and Westie breed, received serious injuries which required veterinary treatment.
"It was reported that the three dogs, believed to be XL bulldogs, were off their lead and not wearing collars and were with a man and a woman who attempted to stop the attack. They drove off in a white van.
"Anyone who witnessed this incident or with any information is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook with reference 23000198855.
"You can also call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."
A fundraiser was also set up to help with Burt's vet fees which can be found here.
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