A north-east family’s pet was attacked at a dog show, leaving two people injured.

Damien and Louise Shine said the miniature schnauzer Stitch was grabbed by the snout by an English bull terrier at the Milton of Crathes show on Sunday.

The couple, of Stonehaven, were left horrified after what they hoped would be a nice family day out ended with their dog being treated for facial injuries.

They were at the event with their two children, Connor, seven, and Anias, 13, said Stitch was attacked while in the competition ring, with families and children looking on.

Anias was holding Stitch’s lead at the time of the attack, and Damien, 43, said: “I was on them in a second. I just wanted to get my daughter out of the way.”

He added: “It must have been about 90 seconds between the attack and getting the other dog off Stitch.”

© Heather Fowlie

Louise, 43, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. It was literally tearing my dog’s face off. I thought he was dead. I really did.”

Louise went to help Stitch and in the struggle sustained a bite wound to her wrist, along with a number of bruises and scratches, resulting in her going to hospital to be x-rayed. Another member of the public who had gone to assist was also injured.

Damien said it took between eight and 10 members of the public to restrain the dog.

A veterinary first responder was on scene, and was able to take Stitch to the vet while Louise was treated for her injuries.

Louise said: “A lady was kind enough to take Stitch to the vet, because I spent about four hours in A&E.”

Damien said: “The people that stepped in to help us, those people are heroes.”

Stitch required stitches and has to wear a plastic cone. A witness to the attack, who did not wish to be named, said: “I just saw a white flash go for a little dog, it was chaos really.

“After that, all these people were trying to pull the dog off the little schnauzer. I could barely hear anything above the sound of everyone screaming and children crying. It was really bad.”

Vinny Burnett, the wife of Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett, organised the show, which raises cash for the Crathes Village Hall.

The dog that attacked Stitch is owned by Mrs Burnett’s father.

She said: “This was a very unfortunate incident at a fundraising event for the local village hall.

“We would not expect that any of those attending or their pets would be hurt.

“We are looking into the circumstances of what happened, but cannot say anything further at this stage.”

A Scottish Conservative party spokesman said that Alexander Burnett was not at the event when the incident took place, but was “concerned” to hear a dog and members of the public were injured.