A CIRENCESTER resident has issued a stark warning to pet owners after she witnessed a fierce attack that killed an elderly dog.

The dog walker, who did not want to be named, was in Fosse Close last month when she saw four Alaskan Malamute dogs attacking a 16-year-old terrier.

“The elderly dog had so many puncture wounds and needed four hours of surgery. It was an incredibly fierce attack. If this had been a child there is not a chance that they would have survived.

“Her puncture wounds were incredible. She was punctured everywhere.”

The dog was taken to Benson and Babb veterinary practice in Cirencester.

Vet Emma Pudge explained that when the dog arrived she was in a “critical condition and suffering from shock, having sustained multiple and extensive bite wounds and crush injuries.

"These extended all over her body, including her shoulders, her back, both sides and the underneath of her abdomen and her left hind leg.”

The elderly dog was stabilised and underwent emergency surgery, but died as a result of the severe trauma sustained.

The resident who witnessed the attack regularly walks her dogs in the area and said that she had reported the attack to the police.

The owner of the terrier was left “devastated” by the attack.

Police confirmed that they had received a report of a Jack Russell terrier being attacked by four other dogs in Fosse Close, Cirencester.