Owner traumatised as dog savaged to death (From Sutton Guardian)

Owner traumatised as dog savaged to death

10:30am Saturday 7th July 2012 in News By James Pepper

The jack russell was grabbed from its owner

A woman was left traumatised after seeing her jack russell savaged by a pitbull terrier.

The woman, who does not want to be named as she fears retribution from the dog’s owner, said the pitbull ripped her pet from her arms.

During a walk along Chestnut Close in Carshalton, the dog’s owner saw a “pitbull-like” dog approach and picked up her much loved pet.

But the beast, which was roaming free on the street, jumped up, grabbed the dog and mauled it to death in front of her eyes.

Despite rushing the dog to a veterinary surgeon, there was nothing that could be done.

The woman, who had the dog for 11 years since it was a puppy, is “heartbroken” according to her husband.

He said: “It’s really traumatised her, she’s heartbroken. The owner of the dog came out of their house and didn’t even ask if my wife or the dog was ok. It was absolutely vicious, our poor dog didn’t stand a chance against a dog of that size.”

The dog was taken away by police officers who were called to the scene shortly after the brutal attack.

In 2002, on the same Carshalton Street, Post Office bosses had to suspend deliveries after two postman were attacked by a Staffordshire bull-terrier in as many months.

A Wallington postman was off work for more than three weeks after being attacked while on his delivery round.

Jeff Sherwin, who is hearing and speech impaired, was so badly bitten by the dog he was taken to hospital where he received treatment for his wounds and needed stitches to his leg and hand.

Residents temporarily had to collect post in person from a delivery centre in Wallington until managers were satisfied the dog’s owner had taken steps to eliminate the risk of another attack.