A terrier was left with "blood everywhere" after being savaged by two huge dogs while out on a walk. Eleven-year-old Rocky was mauled by an XL Bully and a Rottweiler with his horrified owner left screaming "he's killing my dog" as he tried to save his stricken pet.
Gavin Stone watched on in terror as his Tibetan Terrier was pounced upon by the other canines in Wightwick, Wolverhampton, on Saturday, April 22, before being hurt himself in an attempt to stop the attack, reports BirminghamLive.
Rocky was rushed to the vets and received treatment for three days, requiring an operation and stitches. Gavin and his father, Gary, who he had called to help, spent hours in hospital as they were also treated for injuries caused by the dogs.
Gavin, 45, said: "It was just after 7am and I took him on his normal walk, I'd only been out for two minutes when it happened. It was where Torvale Road meets Grove Lane. I got to the corner and saw the first dog which was a Rottweiler. I could see it hadn't got a collar or a lead.
"It seemed like a friendly dog, it just looked and turned around and I kind of froze because I thought what do I do. Something made me turn back, I got about five feet and I turned around and the other was running full pelt and it knocked me over.
"It absolutely savaged Rocky, it threw him in the air. I got my hands in the dog's face trying to pull its jaws open, I could see a lot of blood. Rocky managed to get out of his harness, then the dog got Rocky's whole head in its mouth.
"The dog must've been about six or seven stone it was absolutely massive. I was fighting them for about 10 minutes. The Rottweiler wasn't the main aggressor but it did join in and when I got the main one off, the other was having a go.
"I was screaming and shouting for help, saying 'he's killing my dog, he's killing my dog'. After 10 minutes my dog just went completely limp and I thought he'd died. He was not moving at all. I thought he'd bled to death."
In a panic, Gavin called his mother for help and dad, Gary, drove to the location. Rocky, after being limp, had been able to get up and was pursued by the XL Bully. Both dogs then bit his father who was left with injuries to his face and feet.
Gary rescued Rocky and put him in his car and rushed to the vets. They dropped their dog off and returned to the scene to get Gavin's glasses and other items that had been lost in the melee.
Police and paramedics were then able to seize the dogs and the men were taken to a local hospital. "I'm about 5ft11in and 16 stone and in under five minutes I was shattered [from fighting the dogs off], it was like a wrestling match," Gavin said. "I had to have my hand stitched up ad my finger nails had broken off. My dad is bruised and his face and feet were bitten. We had to both have a tetanus injection and antibiotics."
Rocky suffered injuries to his mouth, ears, neck legs and tail but did briefly return home yesterday despite being taken back to the vet for fluids. As well as Rocky being wounded and traumatised by the incident, the price of treatment is likely to run into the thousands. Gavin's insurance will cover around £3,000 of the costs, but the price could be upwards of £5,000.
A fundraising page has been launched within hours of the post and has already raised the latter amount. Any additional funds raised will be donated to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, The Dogs Trust and Tibetan Terrier Rescue, say the family.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We’re investigating after two men were injured in a dog attack in Wolverhampton. The men were walking their own dog when it was attacked by two other dogs at the junction of Torvale Road and Grove Lane. The men intervened but were bitten and left with injuries to their hands, arms and face. Their dog was also seriously injured.
"The two dogs involved in the attack have now been seized by officers and remain in our secure kennels while the investigation continues. The owner of the dogs has been spoken to by officers and the investigation continues. Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch via Live Chat quoting 20/367422/23."
Jamie Arrowsmith, spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "We were called to reports of two patients who had suffered dog bite injuries at 8.19am on Saturday, one ambulance attended the scene. On arrival we discovered two male patients, both of whom were treated for injuries not believed to be serious before being taken to New Cross Hospital."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
READ NEXT:
- Cops searching park for missing partner of pregnant teacher found dead in flat
- Schoolboy left with gaping head wound after violent play park attack
- Colleagues of pregnant Glasgow teacher found dead raised alarm after 'she didn't show up for work'
- Chilling footage shows thug making 'gun signal' outside Scots home before 'smashing' resident's car
