A HUNTINGDON woman is urging dog owners to be on their guard after her beloved pet was mauled by a Rottweiler during an unprovoked attack in the town.

A HUNTINGDON woman is urging dog owners to be on their guard after her beloved pet was mauled by a Rottweiler during an unprovoked attack in the town.

The owner of the injured dog, who wanted to remain anonymous, contacted The Hunts Post in a bid to warn others.

She said she had been walking her 13-year-old Papillon in Desborough Road on August 14 when a woman with two dogs passed her on the pavement.

Describing the dog attack that followed, the 71-year-old woman said: “There was a dreadful scream from behind me and I turned to find my small dog dangling from the mouth of the Rottweiler.”

Although the owner of the Rottweiler apologised, the Papillon received an infection from the puncture wounds it sustained. More than �400 has now been spent on vet bills to nurse the dog back to health.

His owner said the incident could have been avoided if the Rottweiler had been muzzled.

“My dog spent a very uncomfortable weekend, very sore from being grabbed and shaken by the Rottweiler’s enormous jaws. My head told me to have him put to sleep but my heart denied this and he is undergoing treatment.

“We must wait weeks for the wounded skin to re-grow and we have to take him back daily to the vets for dressings and medication.

“This was a completely avoidable and unnecessary incident. If only the dog had been muzzled, then my companion of many years would have avoided much pain and suffering.”

A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said the incident had been passed to the neighbourhood policing team to investigate.