CAUTION: Disturbing images - A young mother has come forward following the 'frightening' assault in Cheadle, Stockport
A young mother shared her shock and dismay after two dogs, one of which is suspected to be an XL Bully breed, attacked their beloved family pet during a stroll.
The 23-year-old was walking with her eight-week-old baby in a stroller in Cheadle, Stockport, accompanied by her 50-year-old mother, who was walking their 10-year-old Labradoodle on a leash.According to her account, two unleashed dogs emerged from a side road and started attacking their pet aggressively, while her mother made frantic efforts to shield him.
After ensuring her baby's safety, the woman recorded distressing footage of the incident. The video captured panicked screams and the heartbreaking cry of 'he's killed my dog' as onlookers attempted to separate one of the Bully-type dogs from the Labradoodle.
The smaller dog was firmly clamped in the jaws of the larger dog, prompting bystanders to intervene by pulling on its hindquarters and even resorting to kicking it.
During the commotion, one individual brought out a leaf blower in an attempt to stop the attack. Despite sustaining multiple wounds, the Labradoodle managed to survive but required urgent veterinary care, including emergency surgery.
The owners were left with a substantial vet bill running into four figures as a result of the incident.
At approximately 12:20pm on Tuesday, July 23, a woman was walking with her baby, mother, and their dog along Brookfield Road in Cheadle. According to her account, the dogs emerged from Hazel Avenue.
"They came charging round the corner at speed," she continued "We were completely shocked as we weren't expecting it.
"I was in front but they looked straight past me. I knew straight away they were fixed on our dog and I believe I said to my mum 'pick him up.' She attempted to but the dogs were jumping up at her legs.
"They have managed to latch on to the dog's back legs. They were so powerful they have pulled my mum down with our dog and they have both ended up on the floor."
The woman says at this point she picked her baby out of the pram before an eyewitness in a car pulled over and allowed her to take the baby to safety in the vehicle.
At this point, feeling powerless as she had to stay with the tot, she began filming, which is where the video begins, as the man and other bystanders begin trying to help the labradoodle.
The woman says one of the dogs had 'unlatched' allowing one person who had intervened to 'get it in a headlock" and get a makeshift lead around its neck, which she said was difficult as it had no collar. But the second dog continues to attack, as can be seen in the video.
"There was still one dog on my mum and ours", she continued. "He was latched onto his ear. He was throwing his head back and forth. He was trying to rip his ear off. My mum was just trying to protect our dog by staying on top of him. But he was locked on.
"Lots of people were trying to get it off, but the dog was taking zero notice. Then someone brought a leaf blower and that seemed to work and it unlatched and someone could get a lead on that one as well."
She said a woman eventually arrived, and grabbed the dogs, 'one in each hand', and took them away from the scene.
Police were called during the frightening melee. However, once their dog was free, the victim and her mum jumped into a waiting car and rushed him straight to the vets, leaving just as officers arrived, fearing the labradoodle wasn't going to survive.
"I have never seen anything like it", she said. "His eyes were going from side to side. Blood was coming from all over him. He looked like he was going to die.
"I was saying 'they have killed my dog.' I thought when we got to the vets they would say we would have to have him put down."
"He's more than a dog to us", she added. "He's family. He's our baby. He means so much".
Having been rushed into surgery, the labradoodle, who sustained a number of puncture wounds, is now recovering at home.
The woman's mum had swelling and marks on her hand and was advised by the vet to get a tetanus jab.
A police officer arrived at the vets and told them that armed officers had seized the dogs, the woman says.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed two dogs were seized. One of the dogs is suspected of being an XL Bully whilst the other has been confirmed not to be, they said.
A spokesperson said: "At around 12.30pm on 23 July, we were called to reports of a dog attack on Brookfield Road, Cheadle. Officers attended and a woman was treated for injuries that thankfully were not life-threatening. Two dogs were seized and enquiries are ongoing." The woman says both she and her mum have been left badly shaken by the ordeal. And they are now questioning how the dogs managed to be loose on the street in order to attack them.
XL Bullies are a prohibited type of dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
This means it is illegal to sell, breed or give away an XL Bully dog in England and Wales. It is also against the law to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.
Owners of exempted dogs must adhere to the conditions at all times otherwise they may be committing a criminal offence and could have their dog seized.
"It was just terrifying," she said. "Heartbreaking. Mortifying. Upsetting. Any other word you can think of to describe it, that's what it was.
We just weren't expecting it. I've got a young baby and if I'd have been walking both on my own I wouldn't have been able to protect them both, I would have had to just let them attack my dog.
"And if I didn't have the dog I think they would have gone for my baby. It's horrific to think about. This is not okay. It's such a shock as well.
It's such a lovely area around here and everyone has nice dogs. Lots of other dog owners are horrified about what's happened.
"Those dogs cannot be returned. If they do, I will have zero trust in the legal system." Follow Manchester Today on Facebook, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Newsdesk@ManchesterToday.org.uk
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