11:20am Saturday 21st November 2009
By Sian Davies
A HORSE’S face was savaged by a dog after it got loose in the field it was grazing in.
It is thought a Staffordshire bull terrier attacked Millie after it got into the field at Redbridge Lane in Southampton.
From the extensive cuts and tears around her mouth and nose vets believe the dog must have grabbed her face and hung off it as Millie tried desperately to get free. It is understood the dog then ran back to the owner who walked off, leaving the injured animal bleeding and in shock.
Police were contacted by a concerned passer - by who saw the attack and raised the alar.
Officers then contacted owners who rushed to the scene.
Gemma Matthews, 27, said: “I didn’t realise how bad it was at first until she turned around and I saw her face. It looks so bad.
She must have been terrified as she has such a gentle nature anyway.”
The vet who was called to the scene had to remove some bone from Millie’s nose and tend several injuries to assess the extent of the damage before stitching the animals’ face up.
Gemma, who had bought Millie just days before as a Christmas present for her niece, added: “I just can’t believe anyone would just walk away from an animal who had just been attacked like this. Letting your dog loose is one thing but then doing nothing after an attack like this is just terrible.
The dog must have been covered in blood.
There was no way the owner couldn’t have known.”
Hampshire police confirmed they were investigating a report of the attack. “We received a report at around 10.45am on Thursday that a horse had been attacked by a dog.
We would ask anyone who was in the area who saw what happened or who has any information to contact us.”
Anyone with information can contact PC Graham Wilkins at Romsey police station on 101 or 0845 045 4545 if outside Hampshire.
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