A TERRIFIED pensioner was at the mercy of a powerful Japanese Akita dog as it attacked her pet, leaving it with horrific bite wounds.

Rita Gavin, 75, was taking a morning stroll with her eight-year-old terrier Jasper along Ellamsbridge Road in Sutton, when the huge dog appeared from nowhere.

She said: “It was terrible. It wouldn’t let go of him. It grabbed the back end of Jasper and he was covered in blood.

“The next thing a lad came running over from near the garage and started punching and kicking the dog.

“Then he grabbed it by the scruff of his neck, because it didn’t have a collar on and walked away.

“It happened just outside the Little Pig Pub and the landlord came out to see if I was OK. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

“I didn’t even see the lad properly because I was too terrified. Jasper had two operations and was all stitched up at the back.”

The attack happened at around 11.30am on Wednesday, August 1.

Rita, who lives on her own, took him to the animal charity PDSA. who paid the £406 for his treatment.

She said: “I just want people to be aware. I see a lot of dogs running loose around Sutton, and people don’t seem to care.”