A Yorkshire Terrier believed to be one of the oldest dogs in Britain has been mauled to death in a “savage” attack.
Elderly pooch Jack, 24, had been heading out on his daily walk with his owner Ray Bunn, 70, when he was viciously set upon by a black Lakeland Terrier.
Jack was left profusely bleeding from the onslaught and died from his injuries on the way to the vets.
Ray said: ”It was 9am and I had just taken Jack for a walk along the Marina with my mate, something I do everyday.
“My friend was holding him while I ran back to the car to get the lead, when a black Lakeland terrier jumped up at him and started to attack him.
“He wouldn’t let him go, I couldn’t get him off.
“In the end he was lying in a pool of blood, so I wrapped him in a blanket and took him to Bridge Vets in Stranton straight away, but he died in the back of the car on the way there.
“He was a lovely dog. He suffered from epileptic fits for the last six years and had arthritis, but he had a good life so we are devastated at his loss.
“‘I am really shaken by it.”
Jack was taken in by Ray and his wife Mary, 66, after their daughter spotted him tied to a tree and abandoned 16 years ago.
Had Jack’s aged been verified by the Guinness Book of Records he would have been the eighth oldest dog of all time.
The oldest living dog on record is an Australian cattle dog named Bluey who lived to the aged of 29 years and five months.
Ray and Mary have reported the incident to the police, and plan to donate Jack’s possessions to the RSPCA.
A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “Police have received a report of the attack and will be making some further inquiries to see if any offences have been committed.”
