Dog wounded, owner 'bitten in his face', in terrifying Sheffield park 'XL Bully' attack near Athelstan school

A shocked dog owner says she feared her pet would die, claiming it was brutally attacked in a Sheffield park by two hounds she believes were XL Bullys.

Katie Gillatt was horrified when her sister, Louisa, returned with her pet, Ollie, a jack russell - shih tzu cross, after taking him for a walk for her.

She returned after the terrifying incident on fields near Athelstan Primary School in Handsworth, close to Richmond Park Road, with the dog having suffered a string of injuries including wounds and lost teeth. He was rushed to the vets, and Katie feared he could die.

She has now called South Yorkshire Police in over the incident, in which she says the two other dogs were running free from the owner, and which left Ollie missing nine teeth, and with wounds to his neck and legs.

She believes the man who was with the other dogs was also injured in the incident, saying that he was hurt as he tried to pull the two animals off Ollie and Louisa.

She wants anyone with any information to contact the force, and says she is concerned what would have happened if a child had attacked.

Katie has shown The Star pictures of Ollie after the attack, which she has allowed us to publish to show his injuries.

She said Louisa had taken Ollie for a walk at around 5pm on Tuesday evening, when she saw a man in his early 30s chasing two dogs that were running towards her. Ollie is aged seven.

Katie said: “She realised that they were coming at her. They grabbed my dog. We think the dogs were XL bullys, but we are not completely sure. They were not muzzled or on leads. One of them had its jaws around Ollie’s head.

“The other dog was going for my sister. But the owner’s face was bitten too.

“Louise is very shaken up. She has a bite mark in her hand where she was trying to open one of the dogs mouths to free Ollie.

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“Ollie is such a sweet and kind dog. He is like a celebrity at the vets, they love him. But the dogs who attacked him were out of control.

“I’m just devastated - I’ve not stopped crying since this happened, because Ollie has not been with me, he’s been at the vets. The first night I was worried that he may not survive what had happened.”

South Yorkshire Police said in a statement: “We are investigating reports of a dog attack on Tuesday (23 April) on Richmond Park View in Sheffield.

“It is reported that a woman was walking her dog when two other dogs ran towards her. The two dogs, who were not on a lead, are then alleged to have attacked her and her dog.

“The woman tried to fend them off before a man who owned the two dogs ran over to assist.

“After freeing the woman, the man is then reported to have told her to run away from the scene.

“The woman suffered a minor injury to her hand and her dog is currently with vets after suffering serious injuries.

“Enquiries are ongoing and we would encourage anyone with information about this incident to get in touch with us.

“You can call us on 101 or submit information online via our new website: http://www.southyorkshire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us.

“Please quote investigation number 14/77920/24 when you get in touch.”