Owner 'heartbroken' as dog put down after attack

8 hours ago

Steve BeechDerby

News image — Spirit was put down after he was attacked by three larger dogs in Derby

Blake McElhatton Elderly terrier cross dog with white and grey fur and a blue collar — Spirit was put down after he was attacked by three larger dogs in Derby

"It was horrible, absolutely horrible. It wasn't his time."

Dog owner Blake McElhatton has described his heartbreak at losing his terrier cross, Spirit, after he was attacked by three dogs, believed to be XL bullies.

Floral tributes have been left to Spirit, who was 15, in Rykneld Park, in Derby, close to the site of the attack on 23 January.

Derbyshire Police said three dogs were seized, and a 36-year-old woman from Derby was arrested and bailed on suspicion of "allowing a fighting dog to be in a public place without a muzzle or lead".

Man with brown hair and chequered shirt holding a small white dog with brown ears — Blake McElhatton said his second dog, a Jack Russell called Leo, had also been left traumatised by the attack

Derbyshire Police said it was called to reports a dog had been attacked by three other dogs - reported to look like XL bullies - in Saint David's Close, Derby, at 10:30 GMT.

"Officers and a dog warden attended the scene and three dogs were seized," a police spokesperson said.

McElhatton's housemate Otto Harta, 61, was walking Spirit and McElhatton's second dog, a Jack Russell called Leo, at the time of the attack and said things "happened very quickly".

"They were like a pack, just running towards us," he said. "I immediately froze.

"It frightened me. It was horrible having to explain to Blake what had happened."

Older man with a beard wearing a dark shirt — Otto Harta was walking dogs Spirit and Leo when they were attacked

Neil Jackson was working nearby and saw the attack unfold.

"It's not something I'm ever going to forget anytime soon, if ever," he said.

"Nobody should have to go through that and the situation could have been easily avoided."

McElhatton, 31, rushed to the vets with Spirit.

"I had blood all over my hands," he said. "Spirit was in shock and was shaking, and I said 'he can't go through this', and I had to make the decision to put him to sleep."

McElhatton said that although Spirit was losing his sight, he was still lived up to his name.

"He always followed me everywhere," he said. "He was such a good dog. He and Leo loved going on doggy holidays together, and despite developing dementia, he was always just a happy dog."