Dog owners whose pets have been injured in attacks by another man's dogs have warned others of the dangers they pose.

Robert Doughty, from Station Avenue, West Ewell, called on dog walkers to take care at the scene of the attack, a field between his road and Green Lanes.

Mr Doughty described his dismay as two Staffie-type dogs attacked his small Corgi Jack Russell cross, Lilly, on December 7. 

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He said: "Out of the blue two dogs came charging across the field. One in a muzzle held her down and the other bit into her.

"The owner eventually turned up and got my dog out of its jaws.

"I could see her life force going out through her eyes. We had to take her to the animal hospital because we could not stop the bleeding from deep puncture marks."

Veterinary treatment for wounds on her back and side cost about £500, which Mr Doughty claimed off his insurance.

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He said the dog owner has refused to pay the £104 excess because he would not sign a waiver to exonerate the dogs.

Mr Doughty said: "The dangerous dogs are allowed to run free on the field at the end of Station Avenue to Green Lanes, West Ewell, and the irresponsible owner is never in sight of the dogs.

"The police have been informed but unfortunately they are unable to do anything. My only fear is one day a dog will be killed."

Jim Gwilliam, from Green Lanes, said his Westie, called Mac, was attacked by one of the Staffie-type dogs, which now wears a muzzle, in the same field on August 31, 2009.

Mr Gwilliam said: "He held my dog by the face. My daughter was first to get there and as she pulled them apart the other one cut her fingers.

"She was trying to open its mouth to make it let go. She was upset."

He said his teenage daughter went to hospital and he had to pay more than £400 in vets bills to treat his dog.

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He said: "Mac had a set of teeth marks on him and one of them had gone through his saliva duct."

Although Mr Gwilliam said he found out who the owner was more than a year later, he had refused to help cover the treatment costs.

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The scar on Lilly's back after the attack in December

When the Epsom Guardian visited the home of the dogs owner a young man, who answered the door, said: "We had the police round and they have already decided about the whole thing. We are not saying anything on it.

"It's been sorted out that the dogs aren't bad. Police have come round and dealt with it and that's the end of it. We know everything has been sorted."

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Police logged an incident in December at the location involving two dogs, one of them muzzled.

There were no criminal offences or allegations but police gave advice to everyone involved.

Epsom and Ewell Neighbourhood Inspector Craig Knight said: "Police take allegations of dangerous dogs very seriously and where these are shown to be offences will prosecute owners.

"I would encourage all dog owners to act responsibly and ensure their animals are properly under control at all times."