A WOMAN has told of her horror as she was forced to stand by and watch her pet savaged by another dog.

Helen Marshall said that her Jack Russell dog Missy was lucky to be alive after the pet was attacked by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier while walking on Moore Lane Cricket Ground, in Newton Aycliffe.

She said: "It was lucky that my dog was young enough to be able to get away and jump into someone's garden so that the dog could not get to it. She has been lucky, but she has been left with a permanent limp."

Ms Marshall said that the other dog was being walked by two youths, and when she asked for their help to find her pet, they shouted abuse at her.

She said: "They were very abusive. My dog was very badly mauled and bruised but they were not interested."

Ms Marshall has spoken out after fears that the animal has struck again by killing a dog.

She said: "An old man was out walking his dog near the Old Club when it was attacked. The dog was blind and too old to get away. It ripped the skin from its back and unfortunately it had to be put down.

"The two youths left the old man on the ground and ran away. How could they do that?

"I have heard from someone else that the youths shouted at them to put their dog on a lead because the animal was dangerous. After the attack on my dog, I knew that eventually the dog would kill."

Ms Marshall said that she had contacted Newton Aycliffe police about the attack on her pet and was told that nothing could be done, but now police have confirmed that they are looking into the two separate attacks.

Inspector Andy Neill, from Newton Aycliffe Police, said that officers were looking for a brindle Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog with white feet, in the area behind Newton Aycliffe town centre.

He said: "We are taking this very seriously and would urge anyone with any information about the dog to come forward."

Information can be passed on to PC Tracy Nelson on 0845 6060365.