A BOURNEMOUTH mum says her family is being subjected to abuse because people wrongly believe her dog was responsible for a savage attack on another dog.

Marie Miller, 37, of Springwater Road, West Howe, spoke out after unofficial warning posters were put up following an attack on labrador cross, Bayliss, at Slades Farm, Bournemouth.

She says that people think she and her rottweiller/Staffordshire bull terrier cross, Scooby, match the description of the offending owner and dog on the posters but told the Daily Echo: “It wasn’t me.”

Placid Bayliss was left with a seven-inch rip on his throat and underwent surgery to have some flesh, tissue and muscle removed following the attack by a bull mastiff or Staffordshire bull terrier cross on September 10.

Jos East, who owns Bayliss with wife, Jo, was left with a dislocated thumb and puncture wounds to the hand after trying to protect Bayliss.

Marie, who takes Scooby to work with her at her barber’s shop, HFM, in Kinson Road, Kinson, said business has been “quieter” since the posters went up.

Marie said: “We are being accused of it because we fit the description. We’ve had a group of boys call us dog killers, had a guy come over to me and today saying my dog should be muzzled and a man came over with a bag trying to smack my dog away thinking he was vicious.

“Scooby is an absolute baby. But now when anyone walks up to him he thinks he’s going to get hit.

“I don’t feel that I can walk my dog over there.

“A dog is a dog and no one can guarantee their dog is not going to bite another dog but if it does then I would stay there and I’d be quite happy to pay any vet bills.

“I have always been of good character and so has my dog. I don’t want anyone thinking we were responsible when we have done nothing wrong.”