A DOG owner has spoken of the distress of seeing his tiny Yorkshire Terrier mauled to death by a greyhound.
Stephen Brodie, of Brampton, was walking Penny, which he and his wife Doris had had for seven years, when the attack happened at Lambley, near Halton Lea Gate, on Friday afternoon.
After about two-and-a-half miles they passed the greyhound and its owner and noticed it had a muzzle.
But as they turned to head back, they encountered the dog a second time ? this time without its muzzle.
The greyhound?s elderly owner started to replace it but, as Penny walked past, it broke free.
Within seconds the greyhound dug its teeth into her neck and snatched her off the ground.
Stephen, 55, desperately tried to get to Penny while the greyhound?s owner tried to get his dog off her.
He said: ?The dog had her by the neck and was shaking her like a rag doll.
?She was left shaking on the floor and the back of her neck was cut open.
?I picked her up and there was blood everywhere. She didn?t stand a chance. I just looked at him and said you?ve killed my dog.?
The greyhound owner?s car was nearby and he eventually agreed to drive Stephen to his car so he could get Penny to the nearest vet.
But as he lifted the little dog into his own vehicle, he knew she had died.
Stephen rang Doris, who was babysitting for some of her grandchildren back in Brampton, and broke the news. He picked her up and they took Penny?s body a vet.
The heartbroken couple have contacted police about the attack and are warning other dog owners to beware when out walking their pets.
The greyhound?s owners have been in touch since the incident to apologise after Stephen left his details, but he remains angry that the dog was ever off its muzzle in a public place.
He said: ?I just can?t understand it. The dog must have had a muzzle for a reason, so why take it off? It?s quite a quiet route but they had already passed me and there were other people walking dogs. Penny didn?t stand a chance.?
Doris, 60, had to ring each of her nine grandchildren and break the tragic news.
?She was our baby and we don?t know what to do without her. I just can?t sleep for thinking about her,? she added.
?We just want to warn other people to be careful or it could do it again to another little dog.?
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/vi...4&imageindex=1