Couple distraught after pet killed in dog attack

Przemek Bednarczyk lost his dog Archie in an attack near the Bretton Crematorium

A man said he has been left distraught after his dog was killed and he was injured after they were attacked by three dogs.

Przemek Bednarczyk said the incident took place when he was walking his Hungarian Vizsla, Archie, in the fields near the Bretton Crematorium in Peterborough on 12 September at about 19:30 BST.

Mr Bednarczyk, who lives in Ravensthorpe, said three dogs - all of whom he said were off leads - ran towards him and Archie before attacking them.

"It was like a lion attacking a gazelle. I felt so helpless," he said.

Mr Bednarczyk said he suffered serious injuries while trying to rescue his dog and was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for emergency surgery on his thumb and wrist.

His dog Archie underwent life-saving surgeries, but died on Wednesday.

He said losing their beloved pet has left him and his wife Juta feeling distraught.

Przemek Bednarczyk said he needed a surgery on his thumb and wrist after the attack

Mr Bednarczyk said: "There were three dogs - a white and grey dog and two black dogs. All three looked of mixed breeds, but big and fat dogs.

"One of the dogs started running towards us and went straight for Archie's legs before the other two dogs joined him.

"I was fighting them off for at about 10 minutes. The owner was throwing stones and whatever he could find off the ground at them.

"I managed to get under one of the dogs and take Archie's leash off and began whipping the dogs to leave him.

"I then tried to lift the white and grey dog and passed him to the owner asking him to take him way as soon as he could, and then tried to get rid of the other two dogs by trying to hit them with Archie's leash.

"We managed to walk away from the scene once the dogs left and called the ambulance and police.

"It is a popular field for dog walking and I never expected something like this to happen.

"If there was a child or my wife or an elderly person in place of me - they could have died."

Archie joined the Bednarczyk family at eight weeks old

Mr Bednarczyk said Archie, who was nearly two years old, had been a big part of his family's life since he joined them at eight weeks old.

"[Juta] is in bits. The house is so quiet. He was her life - our life," he said.

"It is the owner's fault and I want those dogs taken away from that person. If not, I fear more dogs or even people could die."

Cambridgeshire Police said: "An officer from the team was allocated to this incident and has already contacted the victim and explained the next steps of the investigation.

"We would also encourage anyone with information, including the owner of the dogs, to contact us quoting incident number 35/69314/25."