by Thom Morris

tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

A great grandad is mourning the loss of his pet pooch after two dogs ripped it to pieces while out for walkies.

Peter Jackson, 82, was out with his wife Monica, 79, at Hothfield Common when their shih tzu Molly was attacked.

The poor mutt was grabbed by the neck and back and killed on the morning of Sunday May 8.

The great-grandfather-of-five, from Kennington, said: "She was such a lovely little shih tzu and we went for a walk over Hothfield Common and as we went past a bush these two great big pyreneans appeared - massive dogs.

"Like they do, Molly went up to them for a sniff and as she turned to come back to us they just pounced on her and tore her to pieces."

The Meadowbrook Close resident added: "One of them grabbed her head and one of them grabbed her back and just pulled her apart. There was nothing we could do and we just had to watch it.

"They had no collars on and the woman who was with them was holding their muzzles so she must have known they were a danger.

"She said 'my dogs have just killed your dog'."

The Pyrenean breed can grow to about 80cm in height and can weigh up to eight stone, compared with Molly who was just four-years-old and weighed five pounds and stood less than 26cm.

Pyreneans were originally bred to drive away predators as they guarded sheep, so they can be aggressive towards other dogs.

It is also acknowledged that it is difficult to train out this of them as it is in their nature.

Mr Jackson added: "I grabbed Molly and took her to the vet. I knew there was little hope of saving her but I had to give her that chance.

"The whole family, including my great-grandchildren, is devastated. She was such a lovely dog."

The attack was reported to police immediately and officers are investigating the incident.