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A puppy injured in an alleged attack at a Middlesbrough park popular with dog walkers may need to have its leg amputated.

Police have now launched an appeal for witnesses after the Boston Terrier, called Benny, suffered horrific injuries at Stewart Park.

A man was sat on a bench in the park with the puppy, close to the Captain Cook memorial.

Police say another dog, a black cross described as a Staffordshire Bull Terrier crossed with a Labrador, which was wearing a thick leather collar, then mauled the puppy.

(Image: Ian Cooper)

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: “The owner of the puppy managed to separate the dogs and the owner of the cross walked away with his dog towards the museum.”

The six-month-old puppy was left with badly injured front paws, one of which may require amputation.

He was due to undergo an operation on Wednesday.

Speaking to Teesside Live, Benny’s owner Holly Towns, 22, from North Ormesby, said: “It was absolutely awful. I’d hate this to happen to another dog or even a child.”

The initial vets bill cost £1,500 to get the dog’s leg fixed - and it’s a cost the pair will have to cover themselves as their pet insurance ran out recently.

The spokeswoman for Cleveland Police added: “The owner of the offending dog is described as a white male, aged in his late 50s, of heavy build, with cropped grey hair.

“He was wearing dark grey tracksuit bottoms with a white strip down the leg and he was carrying a large dog chain.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Mark Cubitt from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit on the non-emergency number 101, quoting event number 154269, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.