A tiny chihuahua was almost decapitated in a horrific attack at one of Perth’s most popular dog-walking spots.
One-year-old Honey suffered serious damage to his neck after being targeted by a Staffordshire bull terrier on the North Inch.
Owner Karen Bell tried in vain tointervene but it was too late to save her beloved pet and he died in her arms.
The 48-year-oldsustained a bite to her hand during the rescue attempt, while the Staffie’s handler accidentally gave her a black eye while trying to make the dog let go.
Karen said she will beforever haunted by the image of the dog mauling her “baby”.
The incident occurred on September 19 after Karen had made her usual trip to The Black Watch Museum caf. While walking near the Bell’s Sports Centre, the Staffie pounced.
She said: “As I was heading to do our normal two-hour walk around the North Inch, there was a man out walking two Staffies for a friend.
“The two of them were off the lead and they obviously saw my dog and that was it it happened so quickly.
“The staffie had its teeth right intoHoney’s neck. I tried my best to get him out of its mouth I wasn’t thinking about myself. I was shouting to everybody to help.
“It went on and on and on for 10 minutes. The man was kicking at the dog to get it to let go I got a black eye because I was on the floor.
“There was blood everywhere all over my jacket and trousers and his neck was all torn apart.
“All of sudden the dog just stopped. I picked Honey up and I was going around asking everybody if he was dead because I was in shock. I had to go to hospital because I had a dog bite on my finger.
“It was absolutely horrendous. I’m still in shock I have these visions in my head all the time.
“When I see Staffies in the town I cross the street now because I can’t be near one. I can’t go back to the North Inch.”
Karen added: “Honey was absolutely a lovely little thing everybody loved him. ”
Karen is coping with the tragedy with the help of a new dog a shih tzu called Buster.
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “A 36-year-old man has been reported to the procurator fiscal in relation to anincident on the North Inch on September 19. One person sustained minor injuries and one dog died at the scene.”
Photo by Phil Hannah