Shropshire pensioner tells of dog attack horror

Carole Evans, 66, was left bruised and shaken and her King Charles spaniel Alfie bitten five times after the bullmastiff launched at the pair while they were out walking next to Lacon Childe School in Cleobury Mortimer.

Mrs Evans, a semi-retired care worker who lives in Baker's Court, said she has trouble sleeping after the ordeal which happened – and she is worried the dog that attacked her may attack a child.

She was walking Alfie on a lead down a lane off Love Lane next to the school, when she saw a little girl looking worried, holding the huge bullmastiff.

She asked if the little girl was OK and the girl said "He's not my dog". Then, as Mrs Evans moved on, the dog broke free.

"I landed on my back in the hedge. I didn't even see him coming, he just knocked me out of the way," she said.

Mrs Evans, who is waiting for a hip replacement, said: "I am only five foot and seven stone, what chance did I have against a bullmastiff?

"I looked up and he had my dog by the throat. Alfie was yelping and crying. A man heard us and came running. If he hadn't come along it would have killed my dog."

Andy Wakeman, 44, a self-employed electrical contractor, was with his seven-year-old daughter and her 13-month old Springerdoodle puppy when he saw the attack.

He said: "I was just walking up there and heard the lady screaming for help.

"The dog was trying to kill Mrs Evans' dog. I just got it around the neck. There was no way I would let go of it with my daughter and her dog at the end of the road.

"I was worried it might turn on me, but it was OK with me."

She said Alfie was badly bitten and his eyes were bloodshot from burst blood vessels. One eye had also been scratched, which may mean Alfie will lose sight in it.

"He is overweight, but it saved his life," said Mrs Evans, "The vets said if he had been the correct weight it would have punctured his lung and killed him."

West Mercia Police today said it was investigating the attack, which happened on Thursday.