A woman has described the terrifying moment she and her partner "ran for their lives" after a dog attacked their beloved pet in Kirkby. Becca, 28, was walking her 10-year-old Bichon Frise-Lhasa Apso cross, Seth, with her partner Liz, 26, when an Alsatian-type dog suddenly charged towards them and attacked Seth.
Despite the efforts of two strangers who stopped to help, Seth suffered a broken leg and a severe laceration to his chest. His injuries were so serious Becca was later faced with the heartbreaking decision to have him put to sleep.
Attack near Liverpool FC training ground
The incident happened on Saturday, August 22, following the Everton game, when Becca and Liz went for a walk near Liverpool FC's training ground in Kirkby.
Becca told the ECHO: "As we came to the roundabout on County Road, we saw an Alsatian bolting towards us. It was so quick."
"He just bolted straight towards Seth. I tried to pick Seth up by his harness, but the Alsatian was too quick and too close for me to react. We both just started screaming for help."
A man eventually pulled over to help, getting out of his car and attempting to untangle the dogs while Becca called police. Becca said the man managed to get the attacking dog off Seth, but during the struggle, the dog turned and bit Liz on the hand. She said another man then stopped to help as the couple tried to escape.
Running for their lives
Becca said: "We were covered in blood. I screamed for the driver to help us get in the car to get away. We turned around and saw the dog chasing us."
"We were basically running for our lives. I didn't know if he was going to attack us or what."
The pair eventually managed to get inside the man's car, but Becca said the dog continued jumping at the vehicle. They drove to David Lloyd gym, where police officers met them before taking them to the RSPCA in Huyton.
Becca said vets determined Seth's injuries were too severe to treat and the family made the devastating decision to have him put to sleep. Liz, who was injured on her hand during the incident, attended a walk-in centre, where she was assessed for a tetanus vaccination and underwent an X-ray.
Heartbreak over loss of 'shadow'
For Becca, the loss of Seth has been particularly difficult. He had been part of her life for around a decade and, she said, had been a source of comfort following the death of her mum.
She said: "My mum was disabled, so we had to move out of the house, and I went to live with my dad. It was really hard. My mum died on April 17, and Seth was born on the 27th, and we got him a couple of weeks after."
"He was my shadow. I'm heartbroken."
Becca said the attack has left both her and Liz traumatised and afraid to return to the place where it happened. She said: "Even the thought of going for a walk at the moment, I can't bring myself to do it. It was so traumatic."
"Every time we go to sleep, when we close our eyes, we can see it. If it wasn't for those two men, we might have been attacked too."
"We've had to take time off work. Seth was a big part of our lives. I know he's not a human, but he's family."
Calls for change and police response
Becca said she believes more needs to be done to prevent similar incidents and wants action to be taken to stop another person or animal experiencing what she did.
She continued: "We don't want this to happen again to anyone else. We don't want it to happen again to another dog, and we certainly don't want it to happen to a baby or a toddler."
"We love animals, and we don't want to see dogs being put down. But it's clearly a dangerous dog."
Becca said she had been told police would not investigate the dog-on-dog attack itself, but that officers became involved after Liz was injured. She has also been left with a veterinary bill of around £800.
Becca said: "I just think the law is absolutely disgusting. It's okay for any dog to get out, kill another dog and get away with it."
"I think that's completely ridiculous. I think something absolutely needs to change."
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm we received a report that a dog had attacked another dog on County Road, in Kirkby, on Saturday August 22."
"Sadly, the injured dog had to be put down. It was also reported the owner sustained an injury to her finger during the incident."
"Enquiries are ongoing into the incident. If you have any information, you can call 101 or DM @MerPolCC on social media quoting reference number 26000688812."
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website. In an emergency always call 999.
