Family ‘desperate’ after Jack Russell dies following attack on their doorstep

A dog owner and her family have been left “desperate” after their pet was attacked and killed by a “pitbull-like” dog outside their home.

Rocky, a Chihuahua-Jack Russell mix, was attacked as he and his owner stepped out of the house in Camberwell on Thursday evening.

Rocky’s owner, who does not want to be named, said: “I was about to go on a walk. When I stepped on to the pavement there were two dogs off leads a few steps away. 

(Video: Instagram/uploaded by dog owner)

“The dog that attacked (Rocky) grabbed him from the back of his neck while me and my dad were trying to make him let go of Rocky.

“This wasn’t enough as by the time he stopped it was too late.

“He was very small compared to the pitbull-like dogs.”

The owner and her father said they took Rocky to the vet straight away after the attack, but the dog had broken his spine and punctured his lungs.

She said: “The vet initially said that there was a chance of helping Rocky but then he checked him and saw the blood into the lungs and that he was to be paralysed. He told us that the best decision was to put him to sleep.

“Rocky was one-and-a-half years old, with so much life in front of him.

“He was known by the community as a very nice pup.”

The family called the police to report the dog attack. The owner of the dog that reportedly attacked the other left the scene before the police arrived.

A video has been posted on social media that shows a man with his two dogs leaving the scene as Rocky’s owners crowd around him.

The owner and her family have said that the man was seen in the area the following Tuesday and Wednesday with both dogs off leads.

Rocky’s owner said: “This has really made me desperate because it is not fair at all that he is out there as if nothing happened and me and my family have to be mourning Rocky.”

Detective Inspector Victoria Yule, from the Met’s South Area command, which covers the area, said: “I completely understand how frightening and upsetting this incident would be, and we are working to address this as quickly as possible. I would urge anyone with information to please come and speak to us so we can swiftly resolve this.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting CAD 6537/24APR23.

Pictured top: Rocky (Picture: Rocky’s owner)