A PET owner has been left heartbroken after her poodle was savaged to death by a bull terrier.
Jean Lindsay's dog Shane was being walked by family friend Anthony Barlow when the attack happened in Ardwick.
A dog, believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier, ran at Anthony and Shane, before locking his jaws onto Shane's throat.
Anthony tried to beat the dog away with a stick, as it threw the poodle around `like a rag doll'.
But there was nothing he could do. By the time Shane reached the vets' he was dead.
The incident was reported to the police and they are now investigating.
Jean, 76, from Ardwick, fears the dog could attack again.
She said: "When I got there I knew Shane wasn't going to live.
"I've been told that he was thrown about like a rag doll.
"Next time it could be a child. There are children who play there."
Anthony, 34, from west Gorton, said the attack happened just a few minutes after he had taken Shane on to waste ground off Polygon Avenue.
He said the dog ran towards them, growling and snarling. At first he feared for his own safety as well as the poodle's.
He said: "It came out of nowhere. He was growling and looked like he was ready to go for me, but then it dived for Shane.
"There was no way I could get it loose. It was just like a horror movie.
"It was snarling and everything. If I had been able to pick up Shane, I think it would have gone for my legs. There was nothing I could do."
Anthony said eventually a man came and took the dog away, claiming a workmen had let the dog out.
Staff from a nearby shop arranged for the poodle to be seen by a vet at Ashleigh Veterinary Centre, in Chorlton.
But by the time he got to the vets there was nothing that could be done.
Vet Bernard Wynne said attacks by dogs on other pets are common. He said: "This is unfortunately something that is all too common.
"We probably see one serious dog attack a week."
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Poodle killed by bull terrier
August 28, 2008
Jean Lindsay's Poodle Shane
Showing comments 1 to 23 and replies | View All
midway, West Germany (28/08/2008 at 09:28)
Ace Shakepseare, manchester (28/08/2008 at 09:40)
Mark, South Manchester (28/08/2008 at 10:35)
How much worse can things get round here??
Monkeysmummy, Manchester (28/08/2008 at 10:57)
Bean B4, manchester (28/08/2008 at 11:47)
Ban all vicious dogs/people.
Pippa, Manchester (28/08/2008 at 12:17)
LittleMancMinx, Ashton Under Lyne (28/08/2008 at 12:46)
Cheryl McGuire, USA (28/08/2008 at 13:42)
Trudy, Bolton (28/08/2008 at 13:46)
Dennis the Menace, Hyde (28/08/2008 at 13:49)
My sincere sympathies go out to the owners of the Poodle, what an horrific way to lose your pet !!!
I hope the Police catch the owner and destroy the dog before it happens again !!!
Rosie's mum (28/08/2008 at 14:07)
Once again (28/08/2008 at 15:30)
redskyatnight (28/08/2008 at 16:10)
Another factor is that Staffies have in recent years become 'status symbol' dog of choice for idiots who think a dog is a fashion accessory and actively encourage their dogs to be aggressive. Their increased popularity has led to in-breeding and many people choose to get their dogs from puppy farms and other disreputable sources from which a dog's background and temperament cannot be guaranteed. Add to that a life of being dragged around by teenagers on street corners and treated like a toy, and it's a recipe for disaster. People get these dogs and don't train them, exercise them or socialise them properly, and that's when incidents like this happen.
It's no coincidence that the rottweiler that killed a toddler in a family member's back yard recently had been bought 'from someone in the pub', was left alone 24 hours a day in a small yard and had not been walked for five months.
How many of these incidents are caused by dogs which come from a reputable breeder and are owned by responsible people who ensure that their dog is trained, exercised and socialised? Very, very few. It's too easy to own a dog these days - a return to dog licences, at a significant cost to the owner, and a 'cooling off' period between reserving and purchasing a puppy would help to cut down on impulse-bought dogs by irresponsible people.
wildone (28/08/2008 at 16:32)
The same sad story happened to my Auntie a few years back, not only did she lose a family pet that was much loved, she also lost all confidence in dogs. Still to this day she panics when a dog comes near her and she hasn’t owned a dog since.
Careless Whisper (28/08/2008 at 16:55)
mangomcfc (28/08/2008 at 21:18)
Monkeysmummy, Manchester (28/08/2008 at 21:20)
They are totally different breeds and it just goes to show the ignorance and contempt people have against a breed of which the quite obviously know nothing about.
My dog was attacked by a Dalmation, my dog was on his lead the Dalmation wasn't, does this get reported I THINK NOT. The owner of the Salmation said he was shocked because he had never done anything like that before.
stewart paxford (29/08/2008 at 11:00)
Shade of green (29/08/2008 at 11:40)
As for these dogs, it is most certainly the way they are brought up that makes them act the way they do. They are seen as a status symbol for chavs and scallies and as such are brought up to be aggressive.
I feel very sorry for this lady who has lost her much loved pet because of someone's carelessness.
Lucy Darwell (29/08/2008 at 14:10)
Monkeysmummy, Manchester (29/08/2008 at 14:42)
Very well said, but don't go shopping come to my house on which I pay my Mortgage and all my own bills from the wages I too earn at my 9-5 job and I will dig you some Rockport stuff out I might even have a bit of stuff with crocs on if you want to borrow some of that.
You people amaze me the only people who comment on Staffies are people who know nothing what so ever about the breed.
More children and animals are attacked by Jack Russells and the oh so very cute Andrex Puppy than are by Staffies.
So please if you feel the need to comment get your facts right first.
redskyatnight (29/08/2008 at 16:04)
Similarly, there are plenty of chihuahua owners around whose dogs are exercised properly and treated like real dogs rather than dragged around in a handbag and dressed in designer outfits like dolls by wannabe WAGs.
It's a sad fact that different breeds of dog will always suffer from becoming fashion accessories. Staffies are one of the most frequently abandoned breeds finding themselves at rehoming centres at present, because people who have no idea how to care for a dog are buying them and then find that it's a lot more work than they thought. But this shouldn't be a blight on all the people, like Lucy,who own a dog for all the right reasons.
Jomov (29/08/2008 at 16:23)