AN OWNER has described the horrific moment a pack of greyhounds attacked two small dogs and left them fighting for their lives.

Barry Moran, 55, was left traumatised after the attack in which he also sustained bite injuries to his legs while trying to break up the melee.

Self-employed Mr Moran was walking his four Bichon Fries and his neighbour’s Jack Russell, while he was in hospital, through Two Tree Island, in Leigh.

He said: “It was about 7.30am and I was on the phone to my dad when I saw a woman walking four greyhounds.

“I got off the phone because I could almost sense something was going to happen.

“She couldn’t hold them and they started barking at my dogs and that’s when she lost control.

“They ran over and basically just started ripping my dogs apart.”

Mr Moran, who lives in Ramuz Drive, Westcliff, jumped in and began fighting the dogs off in a bid to stop the attack.

“My dog Oscar had the most severe injuries - his head was practically hanging off. It was horrific,” he added.

“My neighbour’s Jack Russell Tina had a seizure and went limp.”

Mr Moran put some of the dogs into his car to protect them but took Oscar to the nearby recycling centre to ask for help.

Echo:

One witness, Keith Clark, described the incident as “dreadful” and said: “I witnessed Barry raising the alarm and asking for help from the guys working at the recycling centre.

“He had a blood-covered dog in his arms and said there was another very badly injured dog laying in the grass.

“This sort of thing shouldn’t be allowed to happen again and God forbid it could be a child next time who couldn’t fight off four large dogs at once.”

The recycling centre opened their gate and took Oscar in and Mr Moran went back to get Tina who he thought had died.

The dogs were taken to an emergency vets in Southend for further treatment. Tina was released later that day while Oscar was kept in for three days, leaving Mr Moran with a £6,000 vet bill.

“They are insured but it doesn’t cover dog-on-dog attacks unfortunately. I have had to borrow £2,000 already but I have no idea how to fund the rest.”

Mr Moran reported the incident to the police who are now investigating.

He added: “The dogs didn’t have muzzles on and the woman didn’t really seem concerned. She didn’t even say sorry. But it could be a small child next time - it shouldn’t happen to anyone. I have been pretty shaken up by it and I want to warn people. I’ve just had a baby girl and usually take her out with me but she was still in bed this time.”

“If she had been with me, those dogs would have died because I would not have been able to get involved.”

Anyone with informationcall Essex Police on 101.

A fundraiser has been set up to help Barry pay his vet bills.

If you would like to support him click here to add to the fundraising.