Dog owner left 'incensed' after off-leash attack

Archie was rushed to the vet for emergency surgery following the incident

A woman has been left "incensed" after her pet Sproodle was attacked by an off-leash dog.

Archie - a Springer/Poodle cross - was being walked in Trowbridge, in Wiltshire, on Monday when he was approached by a lone dog.

Ruth Gretton, his owner, said: "To have an unleashed and obviously aggressive dog in a residential area is really worrying."

Wiltshire Council's dog warden is investigating.

Archie, four, was being walked with his sister Amber by house sitters while Ms Gretton was on holiday.

The attack took place on Ryeland Way and has been reported to Wiltshire Council.

Ms Gretton said: "I had a call from the house sitters about 11am to say that, out of the blue, a very pale coloured dog had attacked Archie. He was trying to attack his belly, which is the most vulnerable area."

Archie, who was bleeding heavily, was rushed to the vet for emergency surgery. He currently has a deep wound to the side of his leg and is on antibiotics and painkillers.

Archie, pictured before the attack, is recovering at home following the ordeal

A resident of Ryeland Way has sent security camera footage to Wiltshire Council of the attack, which has been seen by the BBC.

In it, the pale dog runs over to Archie as the house-sitter tries to protect the Sproodle from harm.

While the local authority's dog warden investigates, Ms Gretton said she has been inundated with support from dog owners across Wiltshire.

She hopes the owner of the off-leash dog, who she thinks was in the area at the time of the attack, can come forward.

Ms Gretton added: "The house sitters saw a man in the distance who they assumed was the owner. When they called to ask if he could give them some assistance, he ran away.

"That's not the act of a responsible dog owner.

"I'm incensed really. There could have been children in the road, that dog could have attacked a child."