A DOG owner was left in tears after seeing his beloved pooch viciously mauled in a park.

Dave Cannon, 64, recalled how four-year-old bichon frise, Barney, was set upon by a Staffordshire bull terrier, which was off its leash, in Friars Park, Shoebury.

Barney has been left with deep bite and scratch wounds following the attack, which Mr Cannon had to intervene in order to stop it.

Mr Cannon told how he confronted the dog’s owner, a pregnant woman, who responded by running away.

The whole episode has left Mr Cannon, of Fraser Close, Shoebury, shocked, upset and appalled. He said: “It was totally unprovoked. My dog wouldn’t harm a fly.

“Normally, when I hear of dog owners jumping in to help their dog in attacks like this, I think what a stupid thing to do. But I just had to leap in, because if I hadn’t, I think Barney would have been ripped to shreds.

“When I approached the owner, who was pregnant, she just said the dog was trying to protect her, then when I threatened to call the police, she ran off.

“I took a picture on my phone of Barney’s injuries when we got him home and when I looked back at it later that day, it made me cry. It still makes me tearful now thinking about it.”

He said other dog walkers should be wary when out and in the park.

He added: “The vet told us if the Staff’s teeth had gone in a little further, then one of Barney’s lungs would have been punctured.

“I have heard of similar incidents taking place too and this is something I wouldn’t want happening to any dog.”

Essex Police have now notified local dog wardens about the incident. Anyone with information should call 101.