Window cleaner’s horror as beloved canine companion is mauled by Staffordshire bull terrier

Pixie the Mini Schnauzer that was attacked by another dog in Cavell Road, Lakenham. Photo: Steve Adams

Ioanna Street said Pixie, a miniature schnauzer, suffered a hole in her chest and had her fur ripped off her back when she was mauled as Ms Street's 66-year-old mother took her for a walk in Lakenham, Norwich.

Ms Street, of Queen's Road, Hethersett, said the four-minute attack happened in front of a bus full of passengers on Cavell Road at about 5.30pm last Tuesday.

She said her mother, who she asked not to be named, was taking Pixie for a walk when the terrier ran out of a nearby house and attacked Pixie.

She said: 'I could see something was wrong because my mum was being dragged into the garden and she was waving her arms.

'I heard my mum screaming 'It's killing my daughter's dog'.'

She said her mother fell to the ground and a passerby scooped her up and lay her on the bonnet of a nearby car.

Ms Street said: 'I was on the dog trying to get it off, bashing the dog and hitting it.

'Another guy got out of a car, hit the dog, trying to get it off me. Another guy heard the commotion and came out. One guy had his hand in the dog's mouth trying to pull its jaws open.

'You can't get braver than that. Another guy hit it on the snout 20 times to get it released.'

After the terrier let go, Ms Street said she thought Pixie was dead, but saw one of her eyes open as she cuddled her.

Her mother had damaged her cruciate ligaments and broken a bone in her knee, and was confined to hospital for four days.

Ms Street said she had to cancel her holiday, and her parents had to scrap plans for their wedding anniversary.

Police and ambulance attended the scene and Pixie is still undergoing veterinary treatment.