Rebecca Howarth was taking her five-year-old Shar-Pei Kiara on a walk down Alport Avenue, in Hackenthorpe, on Tuesday, April 14, when she was approached by another dog.

She said the dog, which is believed to be a breed of bulldog, was not on a lead and viciously attacked Kiara while the owner watched on.

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Kiara spent four hours in emergency surgery after being attacked by another dog in Hackenthorpe

However, Rebecca, who was with her partner Jake at the time, were luckily aided by members of the public who helped fight to get the ‘dangerous dog’ away from Kiara and out of harm's way.

Following the attack, Kiara was rushed in for emergency surgery, suffering injuries to her face, neck, and leg, and is now recovering at home.

Rebecca’s stepsister, Becky Sambrook, said: “They know the dog and it is used for badger baiting apparently. It’s gone for a child before, gone for grown men, and when that happened on late Tuesday afternoon it bit Jake and a man across the road that tried to help.

“The ambulance came for them because Jake’s hand got bitten quite bad. The dog locked its jaws on Kiara and all the neighbours came running out to try and help them.

Kiara suffered injuries to her face, legs, and neck in the attack

“It went straight for Kiara’s paw and Jake tried lifting her up to put her on the privet so the dog couldn’t get to her, and literally the dog just charged back and forth to get Kiara.

“They were fighting for a good five or six minutes, the owner didn’t even have a lead on him and he just walked off after. There are that many dogs going for a walk now so people should keep their dogs on a lead, it could happen to anyone. Kiara is lucky to be alive.”

South Yorkshire Police and the RSPCA are currently investigating the incident.

Rebecca, Kiara’s owner, has now issued an urgent warning over the ‘dangerous dog’ – which she claims is now in the Woodhouse area – calling on other pet owners to stay aware.

Kiara's owner Rebecca Howarth is urging other dog owners to be aware

Posting a picture of Kiara on social media, she said: “This is the result of a dog not being on a lead! I’ve nursed our baby girl all night she's has cried non stop. My dog was on a lead and never bit the other dog back. My partners hand was bit and another man was by trying to get the other dog off.

“I'm absolutely heartbroken and traumatised our girl is in so much pain. Please everyone keep your dogs on a lead and if it nasty muzzle it, better still have it put down.”

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