A TERRIFIED mum has spoken of the moment her two beloved dogs were attacked so savagely by a rampaging dog they have since had to be put down.

Tina Brown was walking in the playing fields at the back of Carlisle Road, Ronkswood, Worcester, with son Ben and two of the family's Chihuahuas, Rocky and Buddy, when the attack happened without warning.

The small dogs were set upon by another, much larger and more powerful dog she is certain was a Japanese Akita which shook them about 'like rag dolls', leaving both with catastrophic injuries.

Her son, 13-year-old Ben, was also bitten on the hand as he tried to save their lives and had to be given antibiotics at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester to take down the swelling and head off any infection.

The family have tried to tell devastated Ben what happened was not not his fault but his mum said he blamed himself for not picking up the dogs sooner.

Mrs Brown, aged 48, of Canterbury Road, Ronkswood, fought back tears as she recounted their ordeal which happened at around 4.10pm on Saturday.

She estimates the attack only lasted around two minutes but felt much longer.

Both her dogs were on leads and harnesses while the dog that attacked them was unaccompanied by its owner and not wearing a collar.

They understand from conducting their own enquiries that the animal had escaped from someone's home.

She said: “Within seconds the dog came from nowhere and picked Rocky up by the back end and shook him like a rag doll.

"I was punching and kicking the other dog, screaming at it, trying to get it to let go. Eventually it released one dog to set about the other and did the same thing, shaking him like a rag doll.

"It was a big dog. I will never forget the look of that dog. There were lots of people on the field at the time but nobody came to help us.

“Blood was pouring from them. There was blood all over my hands. It had gone through my jeans onto the skin. I’m not sleeping. I can’t close my eyes without seeing them. I’m constantly reliving the attack and I can’t bear to go down there, on that field."

Rocky, who was five years old, had to be put to sleep because of his injuries which included a broken spine and puncture wounds. If he had survived he would have been paralysed for the rest of his life the family were told.

Buddy, who was three, suffered a hernia, puncture wounds and a ruptured kidney. The family hoped he might pull through. However, during an operation, they were given the heartbreaking news that the damage he had suffered was irreparable and they decided the kindest thing to do would be to put him to sleep.

His injuries put him at risk of herniating again and suffering from peritonitis.

The family praised the care both dogs received at Companions Care, Pets at Home, Blackpole and also, in Buddy’s case, some overnight care at Brentknoll Veterinary Centre in Whittington Road.

On top of the heartache, they are now facing a bill of around £2,500 – around £2,000 to try and save Buddy and £450 for Rocky which included X-rays, an ultrasound, antibiotics, painkillers and the cost of having him put to sleep.

Mrs Brown was so upset by the attack she collapsed at one point and daughter, Hayley, 23, had to catch her

Her husband Paul Brown, Ben’s father, said: “It could quite easily have killed a child. It was on the rampage. They were beautiful dogs, as good as gold. They were both gentle and friendly. This has left a big hole in the family. It’s horrible.”

The family believes the dog has a taste for blood and are speaking out to warn others to be vigilant against attack as they do not want other families to go through a similar experience.