A distraught pet owner is calling for American bulldogs to be banned after his beloved dog suffered fatal injuries in a ferocious attack.

Steven Cuzner spoke out after James Piggott, of Greenways, Sittingbourne, was found guilty of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place.

The 56-year-old was responsible for an American bulldog when it went for Snoop. The 11-year-old Yorkshire terrier’s injuries were so bad that she had to be put to sleep.

The dog was tied to a hand railing by a piece of string outside Piggott’s flat but became aggressive when Mr Cuzner walked by with Snoop.

It then broke the string and crossed a grassed area before snapping its jaws around Snoop’s neck and shaking her.

The married dad of two desperately held on to his pet’s lead as he kicked and punched the out of control animal in the hope it would let go, but it broke in the struggle.

Snoop was then dragged to the front door of Piggott’s home where the frenzied attack continued.

Mr Cuzner, of Blenheim Road, Sittingbourne, said: “I think that breed should be banned. They’re just as vicious as a pit bull terrier. They won’t let go. She was screaming and barking.

“Luckily I wasn’t injured. I banged on the door of the flat where the dog had been tied up outside.

“They didn’t come out straight away. I was swearing at the man [Piggott] to get his dog off mine.

“Snoop was still in its mouth.

“He grabbed hold of the collar and pulled it and it released her.

“She was in agony, blood was coming from her right leg in the armpit area and the skin on her back had been ripped open like a banana along the spine.

“I was in shock, I didn’t know what to do. I tried to comfort her then she collapsed on the pavement.”

The 55-year-old rushed the pet to a nearby vets surgery but was advised to put her to sleep.

He said: “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.”

Piggott was sentenced to 120 hours community work for the attack in April last year, when he appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on July 3. He was also ordered to pay £381 compensation in addition to £500 costs.

“To be honest it’s brought us closure. We’ve got a result and she didn’t die in vain,” Mr Cuzner said.