Appeal after dog attack

A GORLESTON woman is appealing for the owners of an English bull terrier to come forward after it viciously attacked her small dog.

Maureen Smith, of Beach Road, has been left with a £690 vet's bill after her six-year-old lhasa apso called Peppe was savaged by the bull terrier while walking on Gorleston beach.

After the attack, Mrs Smith managed to get some details from the owners but they turned out to be false.

Last night, Mrs Smith, 59, appealed for the owners to come forward, fearing the “dangerous” dog could hurt another pet or a child.

She said: “This was a dangerous dog and it needs to be found. There was a lady walking with a little girl on the beach when the attack happened - just think of what would have happened if it had got hold of her.”

The attack happened on the section of beach close to the ravine on Monday at about 4.45pm.

“I was playing ball with my friends' dog and Peppe was behind me. All of sudden this bull terrier came out of nowhere and grabbed Peppe by the neck.

“His jaws locked tight and the dog kept shaking Peppe.”

Mrs Smith and her friend tried desperately to separate the dogs as another growling terrier circled them.

“I had hold on the bull terrier's collar and my friend was hitting it on its

back with a ball thrower, but it didn't budge.”

Mrs Smith shouted at the dog as she heard little Peppe yelping in distress.

“I was in such a state, there was blood everywhere.”

Peppe was taken to Haven vets immediately and on Tuesday he had surgery to his jaw which was badly injured in the attack.

Peppe was due to return home last night and Mrs Smith said she hoped he would make a full recovery.

The terriers had been walking with two young girls aged about 15, both with dark hair, and a young lad who was walking a labrador on a lead.

“My friend got some details but they are wrong. These people should be aware of how dangerous the dog is.”