A DOG lover has warned fellow owners to keep their animals on leads after her pet was savaged while walking on the seafront.

Teresa Hide, from Seaford, was walking her 13-year-old Hungarian puli Bella when the pooch was charged at by a larger dog, which was off its lead.

The aggressive grey dog attacked Bella, who was on her lead as they walked on Seaford seafront towards Tidemills.

Ms Hide separated the two animals and grabbed the injured Bella while the other animal leapt around her.

The 48-year-old said she had to kick the attacking dog which was circling her for several minutes in an “extremely distressing and frightening” situation.

After the other dog was brought under control, Bella, who has failing hearing and eyesight, was taken to the vet after she suffered puncture wounds to her chest.

The vet estimated Ms Hide may have saved the dog’s life by intervening in the attack.

The police said they could not attend as when they received the call the dogs had “already been separated” and there was “no risk to anyone so there was no reason for officers to be called out.”

But Ms Hide believes the police should have done more as she felt at risk and said the other dogwalker – an elderly woman - refused to hand over her details.

Ms Hide, who lives in Seaford, said both she and her pet are now “nervous wrecks” while out walking and urged other dog owners to keep their animals under control – warning of the risks they may pose to other dogs and children.

She said: “The problem that happens is that down on the seafront people let them off the lead.

“Bella is the type of dog who just minds her own business, but people leave them off the lead and the dogs just run up and people say ‘they are just saying hello’.

“Dogs should be kept on a lead at all times and not be allowed to wander over to other dogs when they do not want it.

“This one was not even coming up to say hello and there was no warning.”

Background

IT IS against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere – including private property.

A dog is considered dangerously out of control if it injures someone or makes someone worried they are going to be injured.

A court could also decide a dog is out of control if it injuries someone’s animal or if the owner thinks they could have been injured stopping an attack.

Owners can be fined up to £20,000 or sent to prison for up to six months if a dog is classed as dangerously out of control.