Dog-attack terror

RECOVERING . . . Rachael Childs with her wounded filly, Ellie May

Horse was covered in blood
A SHOCKED horse owner has described finding her year-old filly covered in blood after being terrorised by a dog.

Ellie May, a piebald yearling, suffered severe injuries after impaling itself on a hawthorn tree in a bid to escape the attack.

Rachael Childs (39) rushed to a field near the Huddersfield Canal at Well-i-Hole in Greenfield after receiving a panic-stricken call from a friend who witnessed a large dog, off its lead, harassing the terrified animal.

Rachel, who works in administration at Tameside Hospital, said: “Ellie-May was in a terrible state. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My legs turned to jelly when I saw her. She was covered in blood from a deep wound on her shoulder.

“The wound was streaming with blood and she was in a state of shock. She couldn’t move — she was completely traumatised.”

It took five people more than an hour to walk the injured animal to her stable.

“A vet had to come to the scene to treat her,” Rachael explained . “Ellie-May had more than 18 stitches and clamps to close the wound and she is still suffering the after-effects and shock from the incident.”

Rachel, who has a fiancé serving in Afghanistan, said the eyewitness saw a large dog chase Ellie-May who was in a field with a posse of other horses.

“The dog ’s owner was on the near-by canal towpath but recalled the dog and vanished.

“I have reported this to the police. People just do not care about letting their dogs loose in the countryside.”

A spokesman for the police in Uppermill said: “We would remind dog-owners of their responsibility in the countryside.”

Some weeks ago, dog-walkers were asked to keep their pets on short leads to protect wildlife, lambs, calves and the dogs themselves while out in the countryside during the breeding season.

Peak District National Park rangers and the Kennel Club said that by law they must keep their dogs under control so that they do not scare farm animals and wildlife.

Kennel Club communications director Caroline Kisko said: “Dog owners have a responsibility under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act to keep their dogs on a lead at any time near farm animals.

“The countryside is for all to enjoy but dog owners need to be vigilant to ensure the safety of all concerned.”