A couple have been left heartbroken after one of their two beloved Yorkshire terriers was ravaged by an 'XL bully-type' dog. Jean Scott, 73, had taken six-year-old Bosley and five-year-old Lottie for a haircut in east Manchester before tragedy struck.
As she left the dog groomers' on Vine Street, in Abbey Hey, the offending dog 'charged' towards her and mauled little Bosley. Jean's husband David, 73, said: "This XL bully-type dog went through the garden gates and grabbed him.
"It came charging down. It had a lead on but it had broken away from somewhere. It barged into the garden [of the dog groomers']. He just grabbed him and wouldn't let go."
Jean made a desperate attempt to rescue little Bosley by trying to get in between him and the offending dog. The large dog injured her thumbs and arm as she was bitten while wrestling it off her terrier.
"She had to go to the hospital the next morning because we were waiting for the police and the vets getting back to us to keep us updated," said David. "She's OK, just a bit bruised, and obviously upset at what's happened."
The offending dog 'disappeared' after the ordeal, David says. Bosley was rushed to the vets following the attack on Wednesday afternoon (June 19), and it was found his spine had been broken by the dog which attacked him.
Tragically for the family, Bosley had to be put down. The ordeal has devastated both Jean and David, from Openshaw, and left them both facing a huge unexpected bill.
"We've hardly slept or eaten since," David said. "By the time we've paid for the cremation it will be about £3,000. It's terrible."
David describes Bosley as 'very friendly' and a 'bundle of fun'. His loss has also been sorely felt by Lottie. David added: "She's shaken up. She's lost without him."
The couple reported the incident to Greater Manchester Police. David and Jean expect to speak to an officer about their ordeal on Saturday.
A GMP spokesman said: "At around 1.45pm on June 19, offices received a report of an incident involving two dogs on Vine Street in Manchester. Enquiries are currently ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting log 1706 of June 19, 2024."
