Traumatised grandmother's pet cockapoo was left covered in blood and needed his leg amputated after being savaged by 'XL Bully'
A traumatised nan has described how her beloved pet cockapoo was left covered in blood and needed his leg amputated after being savaged by an 'XL Bully'.
Sue Hambley's one-year-old pet Ralphie was left with his 'leg hanging off' after being mauled by a hound that slipped its lead and muzzle in a park in Kent on May 20.
Police have not yet confirmed the breed of the vicious dog - but Miss Hambley and neighbours believe it to be an XL bully.
The dog in question has now been seized by officers following the 'horrendous' attack at Victoria Park in Ashford, Kent.
Recalling the terrifying incident that left blood spattered across her clothes and the road, Miss Hambley said: 'We passed a few women with young children and a dog with a muzzle on.
Ralphie the cockapoo lost a leg in a suspected XL Bully attack in Kent
One-year-old Ralphie was left with his 'leg hanging off' after being mauled by a hound that slipped its lead and muzzle
'As we walked past, it sort of growled and barked at Ralph, but we just took no notice, as he was on a lead.
'And then all of a sudden, it just freed itself and grabbed hold of him, dragging him into the road.
'I just started screaming and just trying to get the dog off.'
Ralphie managed to get away momentarily before the 'thick-necked' dog - which was a tan colour with a white chest - caught the cockapoo once more.
Miss Hambley, 55, added: 'He got him again, and I'm just grabbing him, screaming.
'It was just horrendous - I could see his little face and all the blood.
'He managed to get free again and I could just see his leg hanging off.
'I just scooped him up in total shock.'
Miss Hambley, who works at Lewisham Hospital, said none of the people with the dog attempted to help break up the commotion or catch their pet until after the attack last Monday.
She says that without the help of her young neighbour Daisy, who managed to get the dog away, Ralphie might not have survived the attack.
Ralphie (pictured) managed to get away momentarily before the 'thick-necked' dog - which was a tan colour with a white chest - caught the cockapoo once more
The terrifying incident left blood splattered across Ms Hambley's clothes
The road where Ralphie the cockapoo was attacked left covered in blood
The cockapoo was rushed to the vet, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Unfortunately, his leg could not be saved.
Scans revealed he also had a pneumothorax - where air accumulates outside the lungs.
Miss Hambley said: 'Thank God they stabilised him. He's recovering well, but it's just awful. This is so horrific I just can't believe it.'
Officers have now seized two dogs from a nearby home after the incident was reported to police.
Miss Hambley added: 'I feel better now the dogs are gone, but I'd be looking out the window at a little one, and I'd be terrified for it.
'The trauma and the images you get don't go away.
'I've probably not slept more than five hours since it happened, and I feel constantly sick.'
Meanwhile, Ralphie - usually a very laid-back, playful cockapoo - has now become nervous of people entering his home.
Miss Hambley added: 'I can't get my head around it, because there was no provocation.
'I never dreamed anything so horrific could happen while he was on a lead.
'If anyone has a banned or reactive dog, please make sure it's wearing a correctly fitted, secure muzzle and lead that it cannot get out of.'
Ralphie has been getting used to life on three legs, and will be introduced to other, friendly pets once his stitches have been removed.
A Kent Police spokesman confirmed that they removed two dogs from their owner.
They said: 'We were called on Monday, May 20, to a report that a dog had attacked another dog in the Baileys Field area of Ashford, leaving it with serious injuries.
'An investigation is ongoing into the circumstances and on Thursday 23 May, officers authorised the seizure of two dogs from a nearby address, which have been taken into kennels.
'Enquiries are ongoing.'
XL bullies became a banned breed in February following a series of high-profile attacks - including on a daschund puppy in Chestfield, near Whitstable, last year.
Ralphie (pictured) has been getting used to life on three legs, and will be introduced to other, friendly pets once his stitches have been removed
Ralphie - usually a very laid-back, playful cockapoo - has now become nervous of people entering his home
Owners must now keep the dogs muzzled and on a lead in public places - and in secure conditions that will stop them from escaping.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, it is illegal to allow any canine to be dangerously out of control in a public place.
It can be regarded as being dangerously out of control on any occasion where it causes fear or apprehension to a person that it may injure them.
