A WOMAN feared her pet border collie was dead after a savage attack by another dog.

Account manager Sue Reed, 50, was walking 12-year-old Kirby in Braeside Avenue, Patcham when he was pinned down by a mastiff.

Kirby needed surgery at a vets after suffering a gash on his throat and a bite mark on his neck.

Sue said: “I was walking down a narrow path with Kirby and met another dog walker who had two mastiffs on leads so I backed up to let him get past.

“As he did, Kirby let out a quiet growl and the sandy coloured mastiff flew at him, knocking the owner off his feet. The mastiff pinned Kirby down by the neck and would not release him. The dog’s owner was dragged onto his back and began kicking his dog in the head in an attempt to get it to let go.

“It went on for a few minutes then Kirby stopped moving. It was awful.

“I thought my dog had died. When the attack finally stopped, it was such a relief to see he was still alive but you could see the blood on his white coat.”

Sue asked for the other dog owner’s name and contact details, but he refused.

She said: “I was so shook up, I just wanted to get my dog to the vet.

“I rushed home, woke my partner Zak and we went straight to the vets who told us that Kirby needed surgery. He’s an older dog and I was worried about how he would cope, so it was awful having to wait during the surgery. This was a horrible day from start to finish.”

Mrs Kirby said the attack on Kirby happened at 9am last Saturday.

Sussex Police do not deal with incidents where a dog attacks another dog.

This is dealt with by the local authority via their dog warden.

Kirby is now recovering but is unable to leave the house.

Sue said: “I blame the owner because he had no control of his dog.

“It’s a big, strong breed but he took no precautions so I want to see that dog muzzled.

“It could have happened to anyone and I see a lot of children walking their dogs around that area.

“I just don’t want anyone else to go through what me and my dog did.”

Sue reported the incident to the police but they said they were unable to pursue the matter because it was a ‘dog on dog’ attack.

She wants the dog owner to come forward and say sorry.