A MUCH-loved pet dog was killed after what the owner has described as a “savage and unprovoked” attack.

Owner Julie Pearce says the family’s 11-year-old Jack Russell Scampy, pictured, was on his lead when a lurcher ran towards him, bit him and shook him “violently”.

She said her husband, Andrew Pearce, who was walking Scampy and their other dog Alfie, a springer spaniel, punched the Lurcher to get it off their pet but it did not let go and Mr Pearce has suffered flashbacks since.

Mrs Pearce, aged 49, of Upper Howsell Road, Malvern, said: “Scampy was on a lead and he’s getting old now so definitely wouldn’t cause any trouble, it was a completely unprovoked attack from a large lurcher dog.

“My husband tried punching the lurcher to make him let go of Scampy but it kept violently shaking him, it was just a savage attack on an innocent dog. 

“It was devastating. None of us has slept since and my husband keeps having flashbacks of it.”

Mrs Pearce said the lurcher’s owner, a woman, did try to intervene during the attack by her dog, which was not on a lead, on Wednesday, December 11, but they have not seen her since.

“After the lurcher let go of Scampy my husband grabbed him.

"The woman picked up his collar but my husband didn’t want to go near the dog again, so she just dropped it on the floor.

“We want her to take responsibility for her dog, it should be on a lead and muzzled. We have tried to ask around to find out who she was but have had no luck so far.”

After the attack on the public fields near Bronsil Drive, Malvern, Scampy was immediately taken to the vet’s – leading to costs of more than £240. 

He was kept overnight but allowed home the next day where he died at 8.15pm.

“The shock and trauma of it was just too much for him in the end, it’s broken our hearts.

"I think he waited to come home and be with his family before he passed away because he deteriorated so fast after the leaving the vet’s.

“He could barely walk as his hips were so badly injured.

"There were so many cuts and bruises all over him and he wouldn’t touch his food. It was horrible to see him like that. 

“I do not want people to go through the same thing so I want to warn people that vicious dogs are out there,” said Mrs Pearce.

PCO David Wise, of Malvern Safer Neighbourhood Teams, said: “This is a civil matter so we have made Malvern Hills District Council aware of this case.

“We will be keeping an eye out for the woman and the lurcher on our patrols in an effort to assist her.”

Malvern District Council was unavailable for comment as your Worcester News went to press.