A TERRIFIED dog owner watched helplessly as two Staffordshire bull terriers mauled her timid pet.

Pensioner Pat Clifton fell to the ground as her rescued greyhound Laddie was savaged by the unleashed dogs.

The six-year-old dog was almost killed in the attack in Crossways and Mrs Clifton fears other dogs will suffer the same pain unless the ‘vicious’ pair are stopped.

The female owner was given a Voluntary Control Order by a West Dorset District Council dog warden, although Mrs Clifton feels the punishment does not go far enough.

She said: “Apart from the upset and distress it’s caused my dog, it’s worrying me that it might happen again. “I feel more people should be aware.

“The longer he is ill and the longer this pain goes on, I feel a voluntary control order is next to nothing.”

Mrs Clifton, 70, and husband Charles, 78, of Oaklands Park, adopted shy Laddie almost three years ago.

Retired retail worker Mrs Clifton was walking past the village hall in Crossways when the two other dogs came out of a nearby field.

“They both went for him and there was nothing I could do,” she said.

“I fell over because he was pulling so much and let go of his lead.

“It was only a matter of moments, it happened so quickly.

“I was just terrified and I wanted to get to him.

“One flap of skin was hanging off on his side and he had several other bites.”

Laddie ran back to the car and by the time Mrs Clifton got to him he was lying on his side yelping.

The other woman managed to get one dog back on a lead but the other ran after Laddie and tried to get into the car.

Mrs Clifton said: “The first thing the owner said when I went back was ‘I will pay any vet bills’ and apologised.

“But she hasn’t got any money and her dogs weren’t insured so my vet bill is up to £1,000.”

Mrs Clifton took Laddie straight to Heathlands Veterinary Hospital in Wool and he has had three operations.

Head veterinary nurse Tracey Porter said: “The dog was in a very serious condition when it came in and it’s going to take quite some time to heal. It was a life-threatening attack.”

Mrs Clifton said Laddie has not been his usual self since.

“He is just lying here all the time, he doesn’t move,” she said.

West Dorset District Council’s principal environmental protection officer Jeanette Guy said: “The owner of the Staffordshire bull terrier accepted a Voluntary Control Order which requires the dog to be on a lead and muzzled at all times in a public place.

“Dog on dog attacks are civil matters and therefore there are no provisions in law for a dog warden to issue a fine.”