A DOG owner thought that her pet was going to die when it was savagely mauled by another dog in a Benfleet park.

Kay Overfield, 67, was walking her ten-year-old West Highland White Terrier, George, through Woodside Park when she said that another dog “came out of nowhere”.

She said that the hound, which looked like a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, latched onto George’s through and body and wouldn’t let go.

She said: “I thought George was a goner, I just couldn’t get this dog off.

“There were children nearby as well, the dog could easily have attacked a child.

“When I was tussling with the dog, I fell - I don’t know whether I fell over the lead or what but I hurt my back quite badly.

“It was horrifying. I am really nervous to walk with the dog now.

“I barely let him off my lead and my husband has to come with me.”

Mrs Overfield, of Kents Hill Road North, Benfleet, said that two women came over at one point and started struggling with the dog to try and free his jaws from George.

She didn’t speak properly with the women, so she isn’t sure if they owned the other dog.

He said: “Eventually we got the dog off George and I just wanted to get George away so I walked over to the car.

“I was too upset to speak to anybody.

“We took him home and bathed him and there were puncture wounds on his side, under his chin and round his neck - they were bleeding.”

George was then taken to Medivet in Southend and given tablets. Mrs Overfield was landed with a £150 vet bill.

An Essex Police spokesman said that officers are trying to track down witnesses to the attack.

He said: “Police are appealing for information following an incident where a dog was attacked by another dog in Benfleet.

“It happened in the Woodside Park area in Manor Road at around 3.15pm on July 23.

“It was reported a dog, described as a black and white Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type, attacked a white West Highland Terrier which suffered six puncture wounds.

“The dog was taken to for veterinary treatment.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Pc Lisa-Ann Gore at Rayleigh police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”