A Ramsgate grandmother has relived the terrifying dog attack that left the tiny pet she was holding in her arms with horrendous injuries.

Patsy, a toy type bichon frise/shih tzu cross is still traumatised with terrible wounds, extensive bruising and extreme shock.

June Piercey, 62, has spoken out in a bid to trace the large black dog responsible and to prevent any further attacks. She fears next time it could be a child.

She had taken Patsy for a walk to the recreation ground off Newington Road at around 9am last Monday.

Patsy had been jumping about excitedly and Mrs Piercey had picked her up, cuddling and talking to her as she walked onto the recreation ground.

She said: "I saw a man in the distance with a black dog playing with a ball. The dog started charging towards me - I was still holding Patsy who was still on her lead.

"I sensed something was not right so turned my back. The other dog hit me on my back and shoulder. It really hurt. I tried to get it off but it was too big, too heavy.

"I was screaming 'help me, help me, help me'."

The black dog - described as like a labrador, but with longer legs - had got hold of Patsy.

Mrs Piercey added: "The owner was too far away. I thought he was never going to get here and Patsy was going to die. It just went on and on, every which way I turned, I could not get free of this dog.

"The owner arrived and pulled the dog off Patsy. It was the worst thing he could have done, it just pulled away her skin. Patsy and I were covered in blood."

"I thought... Patsy was going to die. It just went on and on, every which way I turned, I could not get free of this dog..." - pet owner June Piercey

The black dog had also bitten Mrs Piercey, leaving her with a badly bruised wrist. As the man dragged his dog away, she said it had turned and sank its teeth into his wrist, causing it to bleed.

As Mrs Piercey screamed for help, desperate to get Patsy to a vet, a postwoman came to her aid. She believed Patsy was dead as she had gone "completely floppy".

A neighbour's daughter wrapped both dog and owner in a blanket and took them to Plunkett's vets, where staff told Mrs Piercey that Patsy was in shock.

She had deep wounds on her back and in her side, with extensive internal and external bruising. Most of her stomach was left black with bruising.

The little dog was kept in until Thursday, with drains in her chest and side.

The vet bill has already topped £1,000 and treatment is ongoing, with Patsy in a vulnerable condition.

The three-year-old dog was adopted by Mrs Piercey following the death of her sister Patsy, due to cancer, a year ago.

Mrs Piercey said: "I just want the man found. I know what that dog did to my dog.

"I keep reliving it over and over again. I picture it killing a child. Many people walk their children to school through that park."

Mrs Piercey said she had the impression the black dog was young. It had been "very bouncy".

The owner is described as a white man in his late 30s, about 5ft 5in, of chubby build. He had been wearing a hat and a red Puffa-style jacket.

Anyone with information, or who can the identity of the owner, is asked to phone DC Lee Goodey on 101, quoting crime reference ZY/6993/14.

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