A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl watched in horror as her pet chihuahua was mauled to death by a boxer as its owner looked on.

Evie Honeyman was walking her dog, Rolo, near her home in Tawney Road, Eston, near Middlesbrough, with gran Winifred Honeyman when the attack happened.

Evie was unhurt despite being knocked over by the boxer when she became tangled in Rolo’s lead.

Her gran needed hospital treatment after her hand was savaged as she tried to save Rolo.

The boxer, which was not on a lead, picked up the chihuahua in its mouth while 68- year-old Mrs Honeyman screamed at its owner to help just before 11am on Saturday.

Evie’s mother, Julie Honeyman, who bought her daughter the dog for Christmas two years ago, said: “I wasn’t there but they were only about ten yards away from the house and there were two men talking.

“As they walked, Evie had Rolo on the lead and this dog just bounded over and started attacking him.

“She was knocked down and my mam picked her up straightaway – otherwise the dog might have attacked her too.

“The boxer had Rolo in its mouth and was swinging him from side to side. The owner did nothing, he just stood there and watched. He only came over when a man came over to help my mam, because she was injured. Then he just walked off.”

Miss Honeyman took Rolo, who was struggling to breathe and in a great deal of pain, to the vet, who put the animal down because his injuries were so severe.

“My daughter is so upset.

She loved Rolo and I think she will be traumatised for life.

“I want this man brought to justice and the dog put down because next time it could be a child.”

PC Mike Pilbeam, of Cleveland Police, said: “This was an extremely nasty attack, resulting in the death of a dog, an injury to an elderly lady and was a traumatic experience for the young girl to witness.”

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Pilbeam on 101 or call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.