A 10-year-old boy’s world came crashing down when an out of control dog mauled his new puppy in front of him.

Carter Scopes and his mother Caroline were walking their two dogs – three-and-a-half-month-old Smudge and Dolly, seven – along Church Road, Kennington, when the attack happened.

They were passing the recreation ground when they heard a “distressing” sound coming from another dog.

Mrs Scopes said: “We were walking along the pavement and could hear a man and dog on the rec. My son asked if the dog was OK.

“We carried on walking about 20 feet, and I told my son to stop where he was and I returned and asked the man what was going on.

“The next minute his dog came through the hedge and ran for Smudge, who was on a lead being held by Carter.”

Instinctively Carter, who was given Smudge as a reward for passing the Kent Test, pulled the lead up, lifting Smudge into the air.

However, the loose dog jumped up and managed to sink its teeth into the small pup, a Lhasa apso crossed with a Yorkshire terrier.

Mrs Scopes, a mother-of-two, said: “It was just awful; a nightmare. My son was screaming.

“The other dog got hold of Smudge and had its teeth in her tummy. I ran towards them but we couldn’t do anything.

“The owner didn’t show any remorse. I shouted for him to get his dog.

"It was just awful; a nightmare. My son was screaming..." - Caroline Scopes

“The next minute Smudge was on the pavement, lifeless. I knew there wasn’t much hope.”

A passer-by who saw the attack offered Mrs Scopes and Carter, along with Dolly, a Yorkshire terrier, and Smudge, a lift to Barrow Hill vets, and gave the shaken pair a towel to wrap Smudge in.

However, when they got to the Maidstone Road vets, Smudge’s injuries were so bad that she was put to sleep.

The attack, which took place at around 2.15pm last Sunday, has been reported to the police.

Mrs Scopes described the attacking dog as a Staffordshire bull terrier type, of dark golden colour.

She is now warning other owners to be vigilant.

She adds; “Carter is coping very well considering but he is distraught. I thank God he wasn’t bitten.

“I just want people who have a dog or puppy to be more careful and wary. It was so sudden and unprovoked. You never think this is going to happen.

“I would hate for this to happen to another dog, or a child.”

Police spokesman Jon Green said: "Police have investigated having carried out house-to-house enquiries and spoken to witnesses.

"They would like to speak to anyone with information that could lead to the identity of the man who had the dog.

"He is described as a white man, 6ft tall, scruffy appearance wearing a green wax jacket. He had a tattoo of a swallow on each hand. His dog is described as a tan coloured Staffordshire bull terrier."

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Martin Chambers at Ashford Police Station on 101.