7:00pm Monday 6th July 2009
By Jane Reader
A tiny Yorkshire terrier was savaged by a Great Dane during a walk on Queens Park golf course.
Owner Clare Shadwick watched in horror as little Penny was picked up and shaken by the huge dog.
But her quick-thinking daughter, 13-year-old Lily, jumped between the animals and managed to grab 16-year-old Penny before she was killed.
Now Clare has appealed for help in tracing the owner of the Great Dane before another animal is harmed.
Penny suffered horrific internal injuries and cuts but is now on the mend after spending two days in an animal hospital.
The matter is under investigation by Bournemouth council’s dog warden.
“Penny had to have an operation and the vet said she is lucky to be alive,” said Clare, who lives in Springbourne. “She is so small compared to the Great Dane and she is very old.
“We were walking on the golf course when we saw three dogs coming in the other direction. I didn’t think anything of it at first but then the Great Dane just went for Penny.”
Clare added: “I was hysterical and went to pieces but Lily just jumped in to save her – she could have been injured herself.”
Clare said the dark-coloured Great Dane was with a husky-type dog and a black Labrador, two men aged in their 20s and 30s and a little girl, aged around six or seven, with blonde hair.
The incident happened at around 1.30pm on Saturday, July 4, and anyone with information is asked to contact the council dog warden service on 01202 451451.
Just last month a three-year-old girl was airlifted to hospital and needed stitches in her head and face after being attacked in her garden by a dog and last week a Yorkshire terrier was mauled to death by a Staffordshire bull terrier cross on a playing field in West Howe.
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