Beloved dog nearly dies after being attacked by 'Staffy' before hero bystander jumps in

Skye, an 11-year-old Border Collie was attacked on the streets of Cardiff by another dog, as her terrified owner kicked and screamed. Passers-by came to their rescue, saving Skye's life. Warning, this article contains distressing images of Skye's injuries

A dog was left requiring surgery after being attacked in broad daylight by another dog.

Skye, an 11-year-old Border Collie, was being walked in the street by her owner in Cardiff when the incident happened.

Owner Sue Smith believes her dog would have been killed without the intervention of strangers. Mrs Smith, from Pontprennau in Cardiff, was walking Skye around 2.30pm on Friday but chose a different route than normal to avoid broken glass in a subway.

"I thought I’d cross the road and cut through the park. I regret this now," she said. As she approached the crossing, she noticed a French Bulldog coming toward her without a collar. "Then, suddenly, a Staffy-type dog appeared out of nowhere and lunged at Skye. I was desperate to get the dog off her."

She added: "To begin with I bent down to try to get it off, but then I thought it could get my face too. So I just tried kicking and kicking and screaming. I don't know how long it went on. The Staffy-type just had Skye all around her neck and shoulders. Skye was crying and screaming out. The dog just wouldn't let go. It was so lucky a lovely man came out of nowhere. They were driving along and his partner saw something going on and he came out. I was hitting the dog and he was prising the jaws away," she described.

"If, certainly, the first man hadn't helped, then certainly Skye would have been dead. "I couldn't do anything, I'm strong but the dog wasn't interested, it had hold and that was that," she said.

The couple who intervened took Mrs Smith and Skye to the vet. "Skye was covered in blood," Mrs. Smith recalled. Skye was seen right away at the vet. She suffered several tears, and much of the skin on her neck is now dead due to the trauma. Skye was sedated and given antibiotics and painkillers before being transferred by ambulance for surgery. While she avoided any broken bones, she did need shoulder surgery, and additional puncture wounds were found during her treatment.

Skye has two drains in her wounds which will have to be in for another week. She had to stay at the vet's overnight but the cost of her treatment has been covered by insurance.

Sue reported the incident to the police and is awaiting a call to give further details. "If I had been on my own, my dog would be dead. I'm not saying it's the dog's fault, but we're absolutely devastated.

"Skye is the most gentle, kind dog, she is loving with children and such a kind soul, so sensitive and my fear now is that because she's a thinker, this will spoil the rest of her life. It might only be a dog, but it's a living breathing animal. It could have been a child," she said.