A COUPLE say a powerful dog that looked like a pitbull grabbed hold of their Staffordshire bull terrier and tossed it about "like a rag doll" in a Derby park.
Jason Walker put his hand in the attacking dog's mouth to try and pull it away while its owner sat on it.
He said the large dog only released his 23kg pet, Alfie, "when it wanted to" leaving it badly injured and nervous.
The incident happened in Markeaton Park, on Wedensday, and has cost the couple £480 in vet bills with more expected.
Now Mr Walker and his wife, Marina, of Brentford Drive, Mackworth, want to warn people to be wary of the dog.
Mr Walker, 43, said: "It wanted to kill my dog. There was only one thing on its mind.
"It was a big shock and obviously my dog hasn't been the same since –. He's very nervous."
He said the incident happened at about 4.30pm when he and Alfie, 11, were about 20ft from the walker of the other animal, who was also with a smaller dog.
Mr Walker said: "It's lead snapped and his owner shouted, 'Quick, pick up your dog'.
"I saw the dog coming and jumped between them but it ran straight past me, bit into Alfie's hind quarters, and started ragging him.
"I put my right hand straight into the dog's mouth where it was biting into my dog. It was just in panic. But it wouldn't release."
Mr Walker said: "I don't suppose there was a lot he could do either. It let go when it wanted to."
Mrs Walker, 47, said Alfie, who has arthritis, was taken to the vet straight after the attack.
She said: "His injuries were pretty horrific.
"His skin was torn from the muscle and he had to have an operation on Thursday afternoon to have a drain fitted and skin removed."
The drain is a plastic tube which allows fluid to leave Alfie's wound.
Mrs Walker said he's "obviously in a lot of pain" but that there had been no suggestion he wouldn't recover.
A police spokesman confirmed officers were investigating but said that pitbulls were hard to identify and rare.
He said: "Officers are making efforts in the area to identify the owner and speak to him.
"The couple have said that the lead snapped and the owner called out to warn them. There doesn't seem to have been any intent."
Witnesses should call Derbyshire police on 101.
