'I thought he was dead': Dog owner looks back at chilling attack on beloved pet

A nightmare for any dog owner to watch a beloved pet be mauled near death – Scott McAllister, who owns a German Shepherd-Collie cross, Rocky, experienced exactly such a situation.

It happened too quickly, the 55-year-old tells Teesside Live.

On a fine morning, enjoying a walk on a breezy day on Cocklawburn Beach near Berwick, Northumberland, McAllister says an attack on Rocky was the last thing on his mind.

But the quiet, peaceful walk quickly turned into a fight for his beloved pet's life when, out of nowhere, the 55-year-old describes as some three 'pitbull-type' dogs appeared.

It was an ambush, McAllister adds, recalling the shocking moment that the largest dog among them made the first move, with only the other two joining in later.

“When the dogs approached, they quickly locked their jaws on Rocky and started trying to rag him around. All three of them were involved, and they were all off the lead and not muzzled."

"I was trying my best to wrestle them off, as was their owner, but they were so heavy, about double the weight of my dog."

"I honestly thought he was dead; at one point I thought he just gave up, and his cries were so upsetting to hear. I could see the fear in his eyes."

Felt like Forever

The attack lasted for just three minutes, but for McAllister it felt like forever.

"It lasted about three minutes, but it felt like it went on forever."

Both owners separated the dogs. Then began a race against time as Rocky was barely responsive after being mauled.

"He was operated on yesterday afternoon, and thankfully he is doing ok now; he has been on pain relief and has had a drain put into his neck to stop the blood from pooling behind where the wound has been stitched up."

Shaken by the incident, McAllister has filed a report with Northumbria police, gave them the dashcam footage for authorities to assess the attack.