A pet donkey was left with horrific injuries after being savagely mauled by a dog.
Five-year-old Harvey was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier in his field in Penwortham. The dog was being walked along Bee Lane by a man and a woman when he got into the paddock and attacked Harvey.

Horrified neighbours who saw the incident contacted Harvey's owner Pam Moon and the police. Mrs Moon arrived minutes after the attack at 5.45pm on Thursday, but the dog and his owners had fled.

The mother-of-two, of Laburnum Avenue, Lostock Hall, said: "I didn't see what happened but a man who lives near the field did and called me. He said it was horrific. The dog had locked onto his bottom jaw and couldn't be shaken off.

"There was a lot of blood coming out of his mouth. Harvey was very distressed and sweating."

The dog managed to get through the fence and into the paddock, where he launched the vicious attack. The owners of the dog called out to their pet, believed to be called Charlie, but the attack continued.

Harvey, who suffered severe mouth, nose and neck injuries, broke down a fence to a neighbouring field containing Mrs Moon's three other donkeys to try to escape.

She added: "The police arrived and tried to find the dog, to no avail.

"The vet came within 20 minutes and treated Harvey with an anti-shock steroid and pain killer and prescribed antibiotics. The worst injury was Harvey's gum being torn away from his tooth and there are many puncture wounds and minor tears to his lower lip.

"He is very jumpy and wary to go to the top of his own field."

Pam's son Philip, 14, a pupil at Lostock Hall High School and Arts College, ran into the field to comfort the pet, despite not knowing whether the dog was still around.

She added: "This was obviously an uncontrollable dog that really needs identifying and its owners pursuing."

The couple were believed to be in their twenties. The dog is described as a large black bull terrier.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said the incident was still being investigated.

Anyone who may have seen the attack or knows who the dog belongs to should call 08451 253545.

Source: Blackpool Gazette

Horrific story, poor donkey.