A mum has been left unable to use her arm after her giant dog pulled her over mid-walk and dragging her along the ground - forcing her to get rid of her beloved pet.

Beverly Smith rescued rottweiler and Greek harehound cross Xavier in 2017, thrilled at the prospect of having a companion for her daily 11-mile walks in the countryside.

But their relationship soon crumbled after the energetic pooch shot off after another dog, dragging helpless Beverly down a hill - leaving her unconscious and needing two operations.

Doctors discovered that Beverly, 57, had not only dislocated her right shoulder, but had also ripped her rotator cuff tendons and muscles from the bone when Xavier dragged her along the ground.

The injuries were so severe that the semi-retired teacher was left unable to move her right arm properly or even write, despite undergoing surgery and having physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.

Beverly is now urging people to be careful when walking big dogs and ensure people use correct harnesses to ensure they don't go through the same ordeal she has.

Beverly, from Stockport, said: "It's catastrophic, I can't use my right arm to write. I'm just thankful I've got enough money saved to tide me over.

"After the two operations last month I'm in a sling for six weeks and I will start doing physiotherapy again.

"It will take around about a year before I'm back to some resemblance of normality and I might not have full movement at that point either.

(Image: Kennedy News and Media)

"I should be able to reach up but I might not be able to reach vertically.

"They found that my muscles had atrophied, my back looks like two halves of two completely different people.

"I've always been quite muscular and strong and I've always done a lot of very active sport including squash, tennis, badminton and weightlifting.

"'The other half of my back where the muscles have atrophied looks quite scrawny, even through my clothes you can tell a big difference."

Mum-of-two Beverly adopted the former street dog in 2017 and knew Xavier needed special care to adjust to life on a lead.

She quickly learned that he was very aggressive with some dogs, over food and was terrified of water.

With lots of love and patience, Xavier soon learned to trust Beverly and adjusted to walks on a lead.

But on that fateful day helpless Beverly was pulled over and dragged down a hill, unable to let go of the lead that was wrapped securely around her wrist.

Beverly lay unconscious in a gully at the bottom of a hill falling in and out of consciousness while passersby called for an ambulance to rush her to hospital.

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Dog lover Beverly said: "I had Xavier for a year and I walked him initially nine to 11 miles every single day.

"He loved it, was getting used to being on a lead - life was peachy.

"I took him to Lyme Park and I saw a dog in the distance who my dog doesn't like, with its owner.

"I know the lady so I called to her and said, 'it's okay, I'll come up here and you carry on'.

"I got nearly to the top of the hill and she started walking, so my dog could see the other one approaching and my dog was above the other one so he was in control and he just took off.

(Image: Kennedy News and Media)

"He had a nose strap on across his nose which is supposed to be very painful and uncomfortable and painful if they pull but it didn't stop him.

"I had the lead around my wrist so I couldn't get it off and he pulled me.

"He dislocated my shoulder and even though I was screaming in pain and trying to run to keep up with him he didn't stop.

"I eventually fell as we were going down this hill and I landed with my neck and head in a gully which had glass in and cut my neck.

"It could have been it. I was lying on the floor and this lady was panicking, I couldn't see anything because the pain was so bad."

At the hospital doctors reattached her dislocated shoulder and arranged for her to have physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.

But a year on Beverly was still in agony, and when referred back to the doctor in March 2019 tests revealed the extent of the damage - including severe damage to her muscles and tendons.

After two operations in August 2019 to place a plate into her shoulder to reattach the tendons to her bone, Beverly now faces six weeks in a sling and further physiotherapy.

Two months after her accident devastated Beverly realised she could no longer walk Xavier due to her injuries and made the painful decision to get him re-homed.

Beverly said: "It was really hard having him, but when I had to hand him over I was sobbing my heart out.

"It's for the best. I still couldn't walk him now and I probably never will be able to now because of the injury. There's no guarantee my arm will be strong enough now to walk him again.

"The kennel owner decided she would have him for herself, so he's absolutely in his element in a pack.

"She has a field at the side of the house which she walks and exercises him in.

"He has access to the garden and the house all day long, he's loving life.

"She's a dog handler and trainer so she knows how to appeal to him and his needs.

"It's reassuring to know he's got a good life and that he's being looked after."

(Image: Kennedy News and Media)

Beverly hasn't been put off owning a dog in the future, but said she'd be mindful of its history and size.

The animal lover is also urging people to consider dogs' size and temperaments before welcoming them into their homes to ensure they don't go through the same experience she has.

Beverly said: "It hasn't put me off having another dog eventually but I'd have to be very wary.

"It would be good if people realised that particularly with big dogs you think you've got control of them but you don't.

"You have to pick your dog to suit your lifestyle. I chose a working breed dog because I am an avid walker and needed a dog that could keep up with me.

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"I would say avoid larger breeds if you're getting a rescue dog that has been a street dog before, and get the right harness as well.

"Even if you're really strong, all it takes is for you to trip whilst you are being pulled and then that's you gone.

"I think it would be good if people realised that particularly with big dogs you think you've got control of them but you don't.

"If you slip on dry grass and are on your knees or your dog pulls you at that moment, that's your face bashed in and that's you concussed.

"I definitely would say take them to training classes and get your dog used to being around other dogs on a lead."