A 79-year-old from Norwich has been reunited with his pet pooch Toby, after an unprovoked attack from another dog left him in hospital for nine days with a broken hip.

Reggie Dowe, of Essex Street, off Unthank Road, was walking his four-year-old pug at nearby Jenny Lind Park earlier this month.

Mr Dowe, who usually takes Toby for two or three walks a day, said they often went to that park as they would usually see people they knew. But on this occasion Mr Dowe said he saw an unknown Staffordshire Bull Terrier run towards them.

'Before I had a chance to move it seemed to be on my dog and I automatically went down to try and separate them,' he said. 'It had my dog by the throat and the next thing I know I'm on my back.

'All of a sudden I'm out and I could not remember anything else.'

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Mr Dowe sustained a broken hip and lost two of his teeth during the incident. He was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where he underwent a hip replacement. Toby is still receiving treatment from the vet after he got three deep puncture wounds to his throat and shoulder.Mr Dowe's wife Jeanette, 76, said the attack had affected the whole family.

'It's a terrible shock,' she said. 'Since of all this has happened it's affected my family and we can't forget it - we'll never forget it. It's affected us all badly.

'We are frightened to go anywhere with our dog.'

Mr Dowe thanked the people of the community who ran to his aid and said it would be a while before he would be able to walk Toby in the park again but he is happy they can recover together at home.

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