Dog walkers warned after pet is mauled

Dog walkers are being warned to be on their guard after a family pet was mauled to death on a public footpath.

Diesel, a four-year-old Jack Russell, was attacked by up to five dogs, believed to be lurchers, as he was walked on the disused railway line between Newark and Cotham, near to the Bowbridge Road bridge.

His owner, Mr Daniel Storey, of The Park, Newark, said Diesel was nearly torn in half in the attack at about 4pm on Sunday.

He said he wanted to warn other dog walkers about what had happened.

Diesel was being walked by Mr Storey’s neighbour, Mr Matthew Bradley, 27, and was on an extendable lead.

Mr Storey said three men were with the dogs that killed Diesel.

He said the men ignored Mr Bradley’s pleas for them to call off the dogs and Diesel was badly mauled.

Mr Storey said: “The dogs mutilated him. He was in a real mess.

“The dogs that did this are dangerous. It’s difficult to accept that this has really happened and to get him back from his walk the way he was.

“It would have been difficult if he had been hit by a car or had a heart attack, but we have had to deal with a dog that’s been mutilated.”

Mr Storey said his daughter, Emily, 3, was confused about where Diesel had gone while his son, Rex, 1, was too young to realise what was going on.

“He was such a friendly dog and for him to be taken from us in these circumstances is awful. It’s left us in a mess,” Mr Storey said.

He has reported the incident to the police and hoped anyone who had seen the group of dogs or their owners would report them.

Anyone with information should contact Newark Police on 101.