AN elderly Exeter woman has been left 'heartbroken' after her beloved pet was savaged to death by Staffie -type dog.
Diana Walton was taking her daily walk with Folly, her nine-year-old Yorkshire terrier, in Belmont Pleasure Ground, when the other dog came out of nowhere and grabbed Folly by the neck.
Ms Walton said: "It was horrendous. This dog came like a bolt out of the blue – Folly didn't even know it was there as she was playing with another dog she knows.
"The dog grabbed Folly and just shook her and ripped her throat out. She was covered in blood."
City police officers were quickly on the scene after a friend who was with Ms Walton called for help on her mobile phone.
Ms Walton required medical assistance from ambulance crews after witnessing the attack.
There were children playing in the park at the time and they too witnessed the attack.
Ms Walton said: "We were just walking as we always walk and this enormous great Staffie-type dog shook and shook Folly until she was dead.
"This dog should never have been off the lead. I think it should be put down as it could just as easily have been a child it went for."
According to Ms Walton the man with the dog tried to pull it off Folly without success and when he did eventually get it on the lead he just walked off without saying a word.
Ms Walton, who has had Folly since she was a pup, said: "She never went far from me as she was obsessed with keeping me in her sight.
"I don't know what I am going to do without her, I can't stop shaking. I had just bought Folly a nice new bed.
"She was a happy little dog and was never still. I didn't need an alarm clock with her. I don't think I can live without her. I don't know what to do, she was all I had."
The dog was brought under control and police confirmed they are now investigating the attack with the possibility of a control order being issued to the owner.
