by Gerry Warren
gwarren@thekmgroup.co.uk

A YORKSHIRE terrier owner has been left devastated after the dog was 'torn to shreds’ by a greyhound.

Little four-year-old Roxy was set upon in a country lane after the hound broke free from its collar and muzzle. The Yorkie was owned by Rachel Gurney but was being walked by her sister Catherine Gurney when the incident happened on Boxing Day. She was near their home in a narrow lane in Shatterling, near Wingham, with Roxy and her own dog, a boxer called Henry, when two people walking five muzzled greyhounds approached in the opposite direction.

Miss Gurney said: “As we got close, one of the hounds, a big male brindle, lunged towards us and slipped its collar and muzzle.
“It started to maul Roxy and I ended up down on the ground as I tried to drag it off.
“I was lying over Roxy to try and protect her and ended up getting bitten on my hands myself.
“Roxy was in a bad way having been torn to shreds and we took her to an emergency vet at Herne Bay who said it would be touch and go if she would survive.”

Rachel Gurney, who lives at Endeavour House, said: “She pulled through the night and following day but the next morning just before we were due to go and see her, the vet rang to say she had died in the night. For her to die like that is appalling and has devastated us."

The greyhounds were from the Rosedale Kennels in Rusham Road Shatterling which has an arrangement with the Retired Greyhound Trust to care for and rehome former racing hounds.

The charity’s director Ivor Stocker said he had investigated the incident which was 'very unfortunate’ and had resulted in the greyhound being put down.
He said: "We are looking at procedures at the kennels regarding the security of the fitting of collars and are restricting the walkers to just one dog each in future because they are powerful animals."

Police spokesman Jon Green said: “Police are investigating an incident on Boxing Day near Wingham in which a terrier dog was allegedly attacked by a greyhound. This is being investigated by PC Wayne Wright who is speaking to all parties involved and will then decide the best way to proceed.”