A gran has been left heartbroken after seeing her beloved miniature Yorkshire Terrier mauled to death by another dog.

Eunice O'Neill, 78, was in the communal garden of her sheltered housing block in Westgate when little Mindy was viciously attacked yesterday afternoon.

An unmuzzled dog which was off the lead grabbed Mindy by the throat and killed her.

Mrs O'Neill is "beyond devastated" after watching in horror as her beloved eight-year-old pet was savaged "right in front of her".

Her daughter Chell Foreman is now urging any owners who have the "slightest bit of concern" about their dogs to muzzle them and keep them on the lead.

Mrs Foreman says Mindy was "the most gentle, loving, sweet and kind little dog".

The terrier was rescued from "mass breeding" in Turkey where she was fed off scraps, resulting in her teeth rotting and being removed. This left her with the unique characteristic of her tongue hanging out.

Mrs Foreman told KentOnline Mindy was "totally adored" by her mum and the pair were "inseparable".

"Mindy was loved by everybody in her block. Everywhere Mindy went, everybody fell in love with her," she said,

"She was the happiest little soul with not a bad bone in her body. She loved everybody. It wasn't her time to go."

Mrs Foreman says at about 2.15pm on Friday, her mum had been in the communal garden sorting out her mobility scooter so it was ready for her to go out and enjoy the nicer weather.

"Mindy was by my mum's ankles and the dog came over and as quick as that, he got her round the throat," she said.

Mrs Foreman, who also lives in Westgate, says she was called by her mum's best friend who witnessed the attack.

"Within minutes I was there but Mindy had already passed," said Mrs Foreman.

"However, in hope we called our vets, Briar House, and went straight away.

"They took her straight through, but they confirmed she had passed.

"Mindy's organs and oesophagus were full of blood. She drowned in her own blood. There was nothing that could be done."

"It happened below my mum's bedroom window so she can never escape it..."

Mrs Foreman says another resident called the police about the incident and officers attended the flat of the owner whose dog attacked Mindy.

She told KentOnline she wants to avoid "a hate campaign to a breed of dog" and therefore declined to say which breed it was.

"Owners need to take responsibility," she said.

Mrs Foreman has four rescue dogs herself and one of them "never leaves the house without a Baskerville muzzle on", which she recommends as the safest type.

Posting on Facebook about the incident yesterday she said: "I post to beg you, actually beg you, if you have a dog that you have the slightest bit of concern about, please muzzle and keep on lead."

Mrs O'Neill, a grandmother-of-three, has been left traumatised by the ordeal and fears she will never again be able to enjoy spending time with her friends in the communal garden.

"It happened below my mum's bedroom window so she can never escape it," said Mrs Foreman.

"All her friends meet in the garden. She feels she will never be able to enjoy the garden which the residents have made a little wildlife den.

"I know it's been less than 24 hours but she cannot even look out her windows to see the birds. All this, because a man chose not to muzzle his dog."

Police have been approached for comment.