Ipswich Crown Court

A CARE assistant who tried to rescue her dog from an alleged attack by three Staffordshire cross-breeds has told the court of the “horrendous” incident.

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Shirley Danyish, who lost part of her finger, told Ipswich Crown Court that the three dogs had “ripped into” her two-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Munchkin during an attack in Felixstowe last summer.

“They were tearing into her. It was like something out of a wildlife programme. It was horrendous,” said Miss Danyish.

She said that her pet, which was much smaller than the dogs that were allegedly attacking her, had stopped moving and she thought she was dead.

During a break in the alleged attack by the three dogs, Miss Danyish had tried to pull Munchkin away and felt a pain in her finger, the jury was told.

She later discovered the tip of her little finger had been bitten off and, although the missing piece was found, doctors had been unable to re-attach it.

Miss Danyish subsequently underwent surgery to amputate a piece of bone in her finger.

Her dog had been taken to a vet and spent a night on a drip after having stitches in a number of wounds.

She said Munchkin had been in shock after the alleged incident and had not been able to go out for a walk for five weeks.

Before the court is Robert Hanks, 40, of Ferry Road, Felixstowe.

He has denied being the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control in Gosford Way, Felixstowe, on July 23 last year.

Godfried Duah, prosecuting, told the court that Miss Danyish and Hanks were neighbours in Ferry Road.

He said there had been a history of previous incidents between them which had resulted in a six-foot fence being put up.

On July 23, Hanks had been cycling home and had a chain round his waist which was attached to his three dogs.

Miss Danyish had left her home with Munchkin to walk to a local shop when Hanks’ three dogs had allegedly “charged” towards them.

After the incident Hanks claimed he had been in control of his dogs.

The trial continues today.