A dog owner has spoken of his terror as his beloved pet was left with a gaping wound after being attacked by another dog that should have been muzzled.

Jason Buffery, of Brenzett, was walking his springer spaniel Jeb in Churchlands, New Romney, when the incident with a Rottweiler-Staffordshire bull terrier cross occurred.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW

Recounting the event, Mr Buffery said: "I was about to take Jeb into my mum's house when he saw the other dog on the side of the road.

"He went over to say hello but was warned off by the dog and ran back towards me.

"With that, the dog wrenched out of the 'professional' dog walker's hand and chased Jeb around a neighbour's car.

"I tried to catch Jeb in my arms, but I was too late. The dog got Jeb in his mouth, and mauled and tried to tear his back end off.

"I was on the floor with both of them, and was trying to keep Jeb as still as I could as the other dog was trying to shake him about.

"I was shouting for help, the surrounding neighbours came out and I urged them to get bowls of water to cover the attacking dog's face to get him to release Jeb.

"After three attempts, he finally did."

The aggressive dog had been separated from Jeb, but unfortunately the damage had already been done to both Jeb and his owner.

Mr Buffery continued: "In the process, the attacking dog also bit both of my hands, but my injuries are minor compared to Jeb's.

"I'm still waiting on an update to find out if he will be able to pass stool again, or control his bowel.

"The doctors told me that the muscles to control that are damaged, and the nerves are shredded.

"It's horrible to say it, because a dog is part of the family like any owner will know, but it feels like we're having to prepare for the worst case scenario here."

With the attack leaving Jeb scarred, Mr Buffery is left wondering if more could or should have been done to prevent this.

He said: "Anyone that knows Jeb will know how much of a lovely dog he is, he's a bit of a celebrity in the area.

"I do understand that he was off the lead, and take some responsibility for that, but the fact that the dog is known to be dangerous means that it should have had a muzzle on, and be with a walker that could handle it.

'God forbid if this had been a child...'- Jason Buffery

"The owner confessed that the dog should have had a muzzle on, and when it was with this so-called 'professional' dog walker then there's no way to justify it not being muzzled if that is the case.

"The police have been informed, and they told me that they have issued the owner with a Community Protection Notice, meaning the dog now has to be muzzled whilst walking.

"But the owner must have known, and I do think more needs to be done to at least raise awareness so that incidents like this don't happen.

"Jeb is so badly injured, and God forbid if this had been a child.

"I will say that the police officer was brilliant, he did what he said he was going to do and did it very quickly- I was impressed."

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