A cocker spaniel’s ear was ripped off by a dog outside a preparatory school, sparking fears it could attack a child.

Niki Richards, of Humphrey Court, Battersea Square, was walking Dudley close to home when a Staffordshire bull-terrier attacked him last Wednesday.

During the attack the Staffie locked its jaws on the spaniel’s ear.

The dog’s yelps were so loud teachers at nearby  Thomas’s  Battersea School thought it was a child in danger.

Mrs Richards said there were three men sitting outside Lindsey Court, Battersea Square, where the dog was seen roaming off the lead.

Eventually the owner of the Staffie ran over and hit it on  the head repeatedly, which caused the dog to release Dudley.

The four-year-old pooch was rushed to the Medivet, Battersea Park Road, where vets stitched the ear back together and said he was lucky to be alive.

Mrs Richards, a psychologist, is now attempting to prosecute the owner through the help of Wandsworth Council as it was not on a lead.

However, there is no law in place against dog on dog attacks under the Dangerous Dog Act 1991, which only prosecutes owners if their dog attacks a person.

Mrs Richards said: “It is unbearable to think about what could have happened.

“I felt helpless, I couldn’t seem to do anything for my terrified dog. 

“I threw my bag at the dog and couldn’t let go of Dudley’s lead. But I felt as though the attack would never end. 

“No animal or human should be subjected to this and I want this dog found so that he does not go onto attack again – god forbid if it is a child next time. The owner should have had it on a lead and he was clearly not in control of it.

“I don’t just blame the dog, but the owner too.”

A spokesman for Wandsworth Council said: “We are actively investigating this incident with a view to mounting a prosecution against the owner of this dog.

“We will always look to take legal action against owners who behave irresponsibly or fail to keep proper control of their dogs.”

 

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