Dog’s head almost ripped off by Italian Bullmastiffs in savage park rampage
A DOG’S head was nearly ripped off by two Italian Bullmastiffs in a savage park rampage.
Horrifying photos show how King Charles Spaniel Oscar was brutally mutilated while on a walk in Farnham, Surrey.
The Mastiffs approached Oscar on Saturday before one latched onto his neck and refused to let go.
As owner Howie Bunkham, 52, tried to help him, he was bitten by the second dog and fell to the ground.
The ordeal only came to an end when the dogs’ owner managed to free Oscar by thumping his own dog on the forehead with his fist.
‘COULD HAVE DIED’
Gruesome images show Oscar post-surgery, with bloodied stitching joining his neck and shoulder together.
Howie’s wounds show also a deep gash on his forearm and a cut on his leg.
The wound ripped in Ollie’s neck was “millimetres away from his main artery” – and left him needing four hours of surgery.
Howie himself needed treatment at A&E after one of the dogs gnashed through the thick coat he was wearing.
Now Howie and wife Jo are raising awareness of dangerous dogs, and have shared the graphic photos of Oscar’s injuries on Facebook.
The vet was quite shocked. When they opened him up they said it was millimetres from his main artery.
Owner Howie Bunkham
One woman wrote: “This is awful your poor dog. This cannot go unpunished.”
Another added: “How awful poor little dog, I hope you find who did this, it mustn’t be allowed to happen again, it could have been a child! Hope your dog is better soon.”
Speaking today, Howie said: “Oscar is making good progress, he’s sleeping a lot and he’s eating okay, but psychologically you can’t really say.
“The vet was quite shocked. When they opened him up they said it was millimetres from his main artery.”
He added: “I wanted the owner’s details but he refused and said: ‘I didn’t start it, you know where to find me’ which I don’t really know what that means.
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“It’s about building awareness, it’s not so much about breeds, it’s the way dogs are brought up.
“This dog was quite young and obviously hadn’t been brought up right, he clearly had no control.”
It comes just months after two women were left seriously injured in a Bullmastiff attack in Bulkington, Warwickshire.