Dog owner’s shock as pet attacked

Owner Julia Howat has described how her Shih Tzu Vinnie was thrown into the air during the incident on Saturday, and how she feared her pet had been killed.
Julia, of Ashfield Drive, said: “The greyhounds were barking like mad, and Vinnie had a wee bark back.
“We were nearly home, and the next minute I saw them both run and grab Vinnie; they had him in the air and everything.
“One was at one side and one at the other – trying to rip him to bits.
“It was horrible.”
Julia had been returning from her regular walk to the cycle track at 11.15 am, walking home from Cuckoo Bridge across Lochfield Road when she saw a young man with the greyhounds.
One greyhound had slipped its lead, but the man was able to pull the other away.
But Julia said: “This one had Vinnie by the back, and in the air, slapping him about. I thought he would have something broken.
“Bless him, he started screaming – it was horrible.”
Vinnie ended up pinned to the ground by his throat, and Julia added: “Vinnie was obvious a little bit clever and lay still; I thought he was dead, but then I could see his eyes looking at me as if to say, ‘I’ll lie still and he’ll maybe let me go‘.
The greyhound tried to drag Vinnie away, but Julia held tight until they were separated.
Two motorists stopped, with one driving Julia straight to the vets where Vinnie was treated for multiple bite and claw injuries across his back and stomach.
Julia was treated at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary for bite injuries.
Police are trying to trace the greyhound owner, described as skinny with cropped hair and perhaps in his late 20s.
PC Ruairidh Matthews said: “This was a particularly vicious attack by two large dogs on a small toy type dog which has left it with some severe injuries.
“We ask anyone who may have been in the area and saw anything, or who can help identify the owner of the two greyhound-type dogs to call us on 101 at Dumfries.”