An angry dog lover says she will insist an irresponsible owner is prosecuted after she watched a Staffordshire bull terrier maul her Jack Russell to death.

Abigail Osborn, of Farningham Close, Vinters Park, was walking 10-year-old Frodo in a nature reserve off New Cut Road when the attack happened on March 3.

She said the staffie, which was on a lead but not muzzled, overpowered its owner and latched on to her dog’s neck after he went over to say hello.

She said: “It was a dreadful thing to see and there was nothing anyone could do to stop the dog.

“It grabbed hold of Frodo’s neck and rolled him on the ground.

“After we finally managed to overpower the dog it was clear that he wasn’t going to make it and he died later that day.

“I then had to go home and tell my three children, aged seven, five and two, that our dog had died. It wasn’t very pleasant.”

Mrs Osborn’s husband, Mark, called police on March 5 but was told the dog officer was on leave.

She is adamant the family will insist action is taken.

“It was a dreadful thing to see and there was nothing anyone could do to stop the dog. It grabbed hold of Frodo’s neck and rolled him on the ground" - Abigail Osborn

She said: “Why wasn’t the dog muzzled? If it was things would be completely different and I feel owners need to take responsibility for their pets. That’s why I’m doing this.”

Police were called to the incident which happened at about 9.45am.

Officers took statements from witnesses but the staffie owner, understood to be a woman in her 50s, took it upon herself to have her pet put down the next day.

A police spokesman confirmed the case was ongoing. Criminal proceedings may be likely.

The law states a dog is dangerously out of control if it injures someone, or makes someone fearful of an attack.

A court has the power to decide a dog is out of control if it attacks and injures another animal.

The offence carries a maximum fine of £5,000 and a six-month prison sentence.