A heartbroken woman says she was forced to have her beloved terrier put to sleep after it was horrifically attacked and injured by another dog.

South Ashford resident Louise Hounsell was returning to her Crownfield Road home after a late-night walk with puppy Alfie last week when a dog appeared from nowhere and leapt on him.

Miss Hounsell, a carer, ran to his aid and managed to pick up the 11-month-old pet.

However, the attacking dog, believed to be a pit bull or Staffordshire bull terrier, jumped up and sunk its teeth into Alfie, as well as biting Miss Hounsell’s arm.

“I’m feeling traumatised,” she said. “I was just about to go into my house, and turned to call Alfie when a dog came up the driveway and jumped on him.

“I screamed and ran to pick him up. I turned so he couldn’t get to Alfie but he jumped up and bit my arm and Alfie’s legs.”

The dog ran off and Miss Hounsell was helped by neighbours who had heard her cries.

Her two sons also rushed outside and took the terrier cross, from her, wrapping the terrified puppy in a blanket.

Miss Hounsell, a mum-of-four, added: “I had twisted my ankle in the attack and my neighbour called for an ambulance as my arm was bleeding but my priority was Alfie. I told the caller I didn’t need an ambulance, but they reported the incident to the police.”

As Miss Hounsell’s regular vet – Pets at Home – was closed, she took Alfie to Barrow Hill Veterinary Hospital, in Maidstone Road, that night, by now midnight.

Alfie had a broken leg – in two places – a pelvis injury, and multiple puncture wounds.

He stayed at the vets overnight but due to the extent of his injuries, Miss Hounsell made the agonising decision to have Alfie put down the next day.

She said: “He was in shock. They didn’t do much at first except give him painkillers.

“But the next day they gave him an X-ray and talked of amputation.

He was a nervous dog and we didn’t think he could cope; we didn’t think he would have a good life.

“He was a nervous dog and we didn’t think he could cope; we didn’t think he would have a good life.

“I asked the vet if it was unreasonable and they said it wasn’t.”

The next day Miss Hounsell, 52, visited the doctors about her arm and ankle, which was swollen, and discovered her wound was infected and she was prescribed a course of antibiotics.

She is now appealing for owners to keep their dogs on leads and under control, in a bid to prevent it happening to another pet.

She said: “We really miss Alfie. I didn’t realise I could love a pet that much.

“I am an animal lover and it would break my heart if it happened to another dog. It could have been a baby or elderly person. Hopefully this will make people more aware and this won’t happen again.”