A schoolboy watched helplessly as his pet was almost mauled to death by two dogs.

Acer Hornsbury's pet dog Ollie was attacked by two Rottweiler-style dogs in a Brighton car park on Wednesday afternoon.

The 15-year-old was walking his six-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier with friend Claudia Holdsworth when it was savagely attacked by the animals for around five minutes.

He told how both of the dogs were being held on leads at the time by a man and a woman who eventually ran off.

Police are now looking for the owners of the dogs after claims they did not try to stop the attack, which left Ollie needing emergency surgery.

The attack happened in a car park linking Ditchling Road and Coldean Lane.


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Devastated Dorothy Stringer School pupil Acer said: “I am in shock. I didn't know what to do when it happened, I tried my best to pull the other dogs off but I had no chance.

“The owners could have done something but they didn't really try.

“My friend was shouting because she didn't know what to do and Ollie was howling and making awful noises, it was just terrible.

“We've had him for years and he's a big part of our family. If he dies I don't know what we'll do. I ask that the dogs' owners come forward because it could be a child next.”

Jodie Hornsbury, Acer's mum, said: “How can you begin to explain how you feel when your dog has been totally mauled and pulled around a field?

“The people responsible for this are inhumane. They left a 15-year-old boy and his friend in a hysterical state with a badly injured dog, not asking them if they needed help or any telephone, nothing.

“They just ran off and left them. What's heartbreaking is our dog didn't even try to fight back, he just laid down and let them attack him.”

Mrs Hornsbury, of Lynchet Close, Hollingdean, said Ollie is receiving emergency treatment at the PDSA animal hospital in Robertson Road, Brighton.

He is currently on a drip and vets fear he will never walk again due to severe infections on his wounds.

PDSA senior veterinary surgeon, Anna Mercanti, confirmed the dog was rushed to the hospital after being attacked by two dogs.

She said: “Due to the severe wounds inflicted, the dog was admitted immediately for intensive care.”

Sussex Police said it was trying to trace the aggressive dogs.

A spokeswoman said: “Police are trying to trace the dogs and their owners. Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting serial 1534 of 09/04.”