A DISTRAUGHT dog owner feared her pet Scottie might lose his paw after becoming impaled on a four-foot spike.

The accident happened in Captsone Country Park at Chatham where Stephanie Godin had taken her two Scots terriers Hamish and Ciara for their morning run.

Stephanie, of Booth Road, Chatham, said: “We had just got out of the car and suddenly I heard one of the dogs screaming frantically in terrible pain.

“Hamish had completely impaled his paw on a vicious metal spike about four feet long. He was trying to get away from it but, of course, only succeeded in dragging it along with him."

Stephanie screamed out for help and people came running from all directions. She strressed: "Everyone was very kind, especially one lady who helped me back to the car with the other dog.

“What worries me is that it could have been a child. The stake was lying on the ground sticking up, not far from the children’s play area.

Stephanie had an anxious wait at Warren House Veterinary Surgery, in Rochester, while vets battled to save Hamish’s injured paw. Prior to that they had to saw the metal stake in half to make it manageable.

Fortunately, they were successful and the Scottie is making a good recovery.

Stephanie has written to Medway Council to complain about the stake, which she believes was used to hold up guide tapes during a recent fun run. She has asked for compensation to cover vet bills.

A spokesperson for Medway Council said: “We are very sorry to hear about what happened to Mrs Godin’s dog. A safety inspection of the park takes place on a monthly basis and at the last inspection in February the metal stake was not found to be present.

“Rangers have been up to the area to check out the ground and a full investigation will be carried out to ensure this does not happen again.”

Stephanie added: "I would like to thank the people in the park who helped me after the accident. They were wonderful."