A man feared losing his last connection to his late mum when his Jack Russell was mauled in a "shocking" attack in a Merseyside park.
Robert Byrne, 57, was walking 11-year-old Minnie in Arrowe Park, Birkenhead, on Sunday (July 21) morning when the pair were approached by three dogs, two of which were bull terriers. Robert, who had let Minnie off her lead, didn't have time to react before the dogs "latched" onto Minnie and started mauling her.
He told the ECHO : "It was just a free for all. It happened so quickly and it was a big battle getting the dogs apart. I had Minnie in the air and they were still latched on to her. She was bleeding and crying in my arms and the dogs were still trying to get her but I fended them off.
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"The dogs' owners acted as quickly as I did and I think we were all in shock. I’m still shocked to be honest. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life and it frightened me."
He added:" I was rushing around so much I didn’t get a chance to get the two owners' details. Looking back, I probably should have but I wasn’t in the mood and I just wanted my dog away from the scene.”
Robert rushed Minnie to see a vet in Chester, where she received emergency surgery after sustaining two deep puncture wounds close to her heart and lungs. The vet praised the 57-year-old for reacting so quickly, telling Robert there could have been "so much more damage".
Robert's relationship with Minnie holds special significance as the Jack Russell was a gift from his mum before she passed away.
He said: "My mother actually bought her for me and passed away two years later, so its my last connection with her. She's like a family member.”
Minnie is now on the mend, but Robert said the incident has "changed his life" and wants people to be conscious of keeping their dogs under control while out in public.
He said: "She’s traumatised and still in a lot of pain. She’s mending well so I’m sure she’ll get through it but in the future she won’t be going off the lead for her safety. You don’t expect these things. She’s 11 years old and we’ve being going to the park for years and there’s usually not a soul there. It was absolutely shocking.
“I’m not here looking for dogs to be put down. I’m an animal lover, but when they’re not under control, that’s my issue. From this point forward, my life and my dog's life has changed. I avoid people as it is but I’ll be avoiding them even more.
“If anything, I’d just like people to be aware. I’m happy to have my dog in one piece.”
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