A brave puppy has made a miraculous recovery after almost being torn in half during a vicious attack in an Ellesmere Port park.
Little Ted almost lost his leg after two dogs charged out of nowhere and attacked him during the terrifying ordeal, described by his owner as like a ‘horror movie’.
The Cavachon puppy needed eight operations after one of the dogs almost ripped off his leg while he was cradled in his owner’s arms in a park area close to houses on Marlborough Road.
But almost two months on the brave puppy has defied the odds and has made an almost full recovery – he has even returned to the scene of his nightmarish ordeal.
Last week Ted, who is now almost ten months old, was taken back to the park area by his owner Les Peace but when he placed a paw on the spot where he was savagely attacked he ‘dropped to the floor’.
“We had to go back, just to face the fear,” said Les, who said the little dog still needed to wear a neck brace to stop him from licking his wounds.
“He put one leg on where the attack took place and he dropped down on the floor and just looked up at me. He knew where he was.”
The 60-year-old fought to save the little puppy as two dogs raced on to the field and started snapping at it. Ted leapt up and Les, a former police officer, cradled him in his arms at around 3.30pm on October 28.
But the tiny puppy was left fighting for his life as one of the dogs – believed to have been a lurcher – hung from its leg by its teeth, almost tearing the poor puppy in half.
“His front right leg was hanging off,” said Les, who said the vet recently sent over some images of Ted’s horrific injuries to be forwarded on to the police.
“I cannot describe it to you, they are horrendous. I cannot believe he survived.”
Ted needed emergency surgery on his leg and needed three major and five minor operations before he was allowed home from Leahurst Animal Hospital, who Les praised for their ‘excellent care’.
But the little puppy is now recovering well and has even grown back some of his fluffy fur to cover the extensive scars, but they can still be seen as the hair has grown back ‘ginger’.
“We had to have him shaved right down, but now it is all new,” said Les, who added that Ted was now taking two fairly lengthy walks every day, and had been spoilt at Christmas with treats, teddies and toys.
No one has been prosecuted for the attack which left Les faced with a £7,000 vet bill, which luckily his insurance covered.
An investigation is ongoing.
And Les wants the owners to face charges as he worries that next time the dogs could attack a child.
“Ted is doing really well. I cannot believe how horrible it was, I have seen some things before but never anything this bad,” said Les.
“When people talk about it I cannot understand or explain how I didn't get bitten. I had him in my arms. Unfortunately he got badly bitten, but it could have been a child.
“The nurses at Leahurst have been brilliant, they saved his life.”
