Owners heartbroken as Chihuahua put down after savage attack by Staffie
A heartbroken dog owner has told of how her pet chihuahua was so badly mauled by a neighbour's Staffordshire Bull Terrier that it had to be put down.
Owner Maria Douton has agreed not to prosecute her Cannock neighbour Amy Marshall-Sherratt after she agreed to move the dog permanently to live with friends in another part of Staffordshire.
Mrs Douton was in her house in Mountain Pine Close when she heard her other dog yelping in the garden. She ran out and looked over the fence to see 17-month-old chihuahua Harry in the jaws of the terrier, named Harley.
"I was so distraught and upset that I ran out the front screaming where two sets of neighbours came over to help me.
"The one neighbour managed to get Harry and take him to the vets where he had to be put to sleep."
The 47-year-old's distress was compounded by concern that the proximity of the Staffie may affect her chances of becoming a foster mother.
She initially reported the incident to the police but later decided not to press charges. Angry exchanges in the initial aftermath of the attack subsided and both sides agreed to compromise to resolve the bad feeling.
It is disputed whether Harry got into next door's garden through a gap in the fence, or whether Harley crossed the boundary and snatched him.
Mrs Marshall-Sherratt said she was 'devastated' to learn of the attack.
The mother-of-two, 29, said: "I wasn't here at the time but if a Staffie sees a dog like that on its territory it is naturally going to go for him. The chihuahua wouldn't have stood a chance.
"I feel for my neighbour and I understand completely how she feels. It was an unfortunate accident and we are extremely sorry it has happened."
Staffordshire Police spokeswoman Faye Casey said the law regarding dangerous dogs had changed recently.
"It is not as clear-cut as it used to be but we can say that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier which carried out the attack is not classed as a dangerous dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
"It is considered that reasonable steps had been taken by the owner of the dog to keep it under control within its own boundary. In addition, the attack took place in a private garden and not in the public domain, so was not an immediate threat to the public.
"We attended and spoke to both parties who are trying to resolve the situation.
"This was a very sad incident with a very unfortunate outcome."
