A pet owner has been heartbroken after his beloved dog was mutilated to death on a walk in Teesside.

Elisabeth Lavelle was walking her two dogs, Lola and Fleur, on December 18 near her home in the Roseworth neighborhood of Stockton when her oldest dog tragically died.

The 40-year-old says a couple pulled into a van with five Alsatian-type dogs and one mixed breed before leaving all dogs off leash.

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It was there that in a field behind Rochester Road, the owner claims one of them ran towards Lola – a Jack Russell mix – and launched a savage attack on the 13-year-old dog.

To Elisabeth’s devastation, she said two of the other dogs then joined in the attack, leaving Lola “mutilated” and unable to recover.

The Teessider says the owners of the dogs involved offered no help or apologies.

“She died in my arms”

She said: “One of them just ran over to her and put her on her back and started attacking her, then two more ran and did the same.

“I started to run and try to get it, but the other owners didn’t do anything, they just stood back.

“They had no control over the dogs.

“She was mutilated and died in my arms.”

Elisabeth says she then called Cleveland Police and made a report and also informed the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) of the attack.

She now encourages others to report the attacks in a bid to stop similar dog deaths, she said: “It’s an accident waiting to happen and if these dogs then attack a child.

“I want to raise awareness that you have to report every incident when a dog attacks.

“If other people report these incidents, that’s more evidence, because it’s my word against theirs up to the minute.

“Lola died in my arms and I don’t want another dog owner to experience what I have.”

The Teessider said her other dog, a mix of young Collie Spaniels who was with her at the time of the attack, is now afraid to go out for a walk and says she no longer walks her in that area.

Police have confirmed they have received reports from Ms Lavelle and the owner of the other dogs involved in the incident.

A force spokesperson said: “Police have received reports from or (on behalf of) dog owners involved in an incident in the fields behind Rochester Road on the morning of Saturday December 18th.

“The first, from a man, reported that a woman with several dogs approached him after which one of his dogs attacked one of his small dogs. He reported bringing his dogs back in his van. to secure them in the vehicle, but said the woman was gone when he returned to speak to her.

Police later received a call on behalf of the woman, reporting that a large group of dogs with the man above had rushed to their dogs and attacked one of them, sadly killing him. It was reported that the man had entered his van and left.

“Both police reports have been carefully reviewed and considered based on the information available to us.”

Police said they would ask the area’s designated officer to incorporate these dog walking areas into their patrols for reassurance.

The spokesperson added: “The officer also personally contacted the lady who reported, expressing sincere sympathy for what happened to her dog. He explained that the incidents of dogs attacking other dogs (who did not are not assistance dogs) is not an offense that the police or any other prosecuting agency may take action on.

“As in the original reports there was also no mention of anyone injured or at risk of injury in the incident, this did not appear to meet the criteria of a dangerously out of control dog, he therefore could not be criminalized. as such.

“As a touching subject, the police must remain impartial and objective and only bring cases to the PSC that have a realistic prospect of prosecution. Additionally, there was no independent witness or CCTV / phone footage. identified in this case.

“This appears to be a tragic one-off incident and we will be asking the area designate to incorporate these dog walking areas into their patrols for reassurance.”

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