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A horrified Midlands woman has spoken out after a Staffordshire bull terrier mauled her beloved pet.

The woman watched on in terror as the Staffie bounded over and locked its jaws on her dog.

The animal - which belonged to a street beggar - launched a vicious attack "out of nowhere".

It targeted Janet Evans' beloeved cross-breed Lassie, and the 66-year-old was left lying down on the ground trying to hold her pet.

Two men tried to get the brindle-coloured Staffie off - but, only 20 minutes after the attack started did the dog finally release its grip.

In her terror, 12-year-old Lassie then ran off, crossing several busy roads before making her way home following the shocking incident in Butterfield Place on Tuesday afternoon (August 13).

Janet had to spend £600 on vet bills after Lassie - a mix between a corgi and a Jack Russell - was left with a gaping wound in her neck, reports StokeonTrentLive.

Now she believes the Staffie - which is regularly seen in Tunstall with its owner as he asks passersby for change - should be put down before it savages a child.

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Janet, of Tunstall, said: "I was by the ladies' toilet and the next thing I knew this Staffie had ran out of a gate with its lead still attached.

"I didn't even have a chance to pick Lassie up when the Staffie grabbed Lassie around her neck. It just locked its jaws on her and started shaking her.

"I was lying on the floor trying to keep Lassie still so it didn't make her injury worse. It took two men 20 minutes to finally get it off. They couldn't prise its jaws open and had to kick it.

"The owner was trying to get it off too. I've seen him begging in Tunstall. There was quite a big crowd and one woman was crying. It was awful.

"Lassie's lead broke during the attack and when she was finally free she was spooked and the remaining bit of lead slipped out of my hand. I was so terrified that she'd get run over but I found her by the back door."

Janet then took Lassie to Willow Veterinary Clinic where she had stitches to close the wound, injections and painkillers.

She added: "She's been back to the vets but it's going to take time to recover. I'm terrified the same things going to happen again."

Janet says she reported the incident to Staffordshire Police but was told it was a civil matter.

Se added: "I'm scared that next time it could be a child. It should be destroyed or at the very last kept on a muzzle. Apparently it's not the first time that its done it either."