A PENSIONER was attacked by a dog while attempting to save her own Yorkshire terrier from being mauled.

Valerie Wade was left covered in blood and was in fear of her life during the attack, which happened as she was walking her own pet in the Foxwood area of York.

However, a resident heard her cries for help and was able to calm down the animal, possibly a Staffordshire bull terrier.

The incident happened last Thursday evening as Mrs Wade, a widow, was walking her Yorkie, Whisker, at about 6.30pm.

The larger dog jumped over a garden fence and Mrs Wade held her own animal above her head as she tried to save it from being mauled. But the bigger dog sank its jaws into her right arm ten times and also bit her right ear.

“I grabbed my Yorkie and held him up as high as I could. It attacked me because it could not get at the dog. I was screaming at the top of my voice,” she said.

“I have never been so terrified and petrified in my life. Blood was pouring down my face and neck from my ear and there was blood down my arm from the bites.”.

After the incident she was taken to hospital where she spent more than three hours in surgery. She was also told she would need reconstruction work on her ear.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire police said a 47-year-old man had been reported for the offence of having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.