Sue Hambley’s one-year-old cockapoo, Ralphie, suffered severe injuries and ultimately lost his leg after being attacked by a dog, believed to be an XL Bully, that broke free from its lead and muzzle in a park in Kent on May 20.
The incident occurred at Victoria Park in Ashford, leaving Ralphie bloodied and with his leg hanging off.
Although the exact breed of the attacking dog has not been officially confirmed by police, witnesses and neighbors suspect it to be an XL Bully. Following the attack, officers seized the dog in question.
Recalling the horrifying incident, Sue described how she and Ralphie were passing a group of women with young children and a muzzled dog when suddenly, the dog slipped its muzzle and attacked.
“I just started screaming and trying to get the dog off,” Sue said. Ralphie briefly escaped but was caught again by the tan-colored dog with a white chest.
“It was horrendous,” Sue, 55, recalled. “I could see his little face and all the blood. He managed to get free again, and his leg was hanging off.” She scooped Ralphie up in shock, covered in blood from the attack.
Despite the chaos, none of the dog’s handlers intervened until the attack was nearly over. It was only thanks to Sue’s young neighbor Daisy, who helped separate the dogs, that Ralphie survived.
Ralphie was rushed to the vet, where he underwent emergency surgery, but his leg could not be saved.
Scans also revealed that Ralphie had a pneumothorax, a condition where air accumulates outside the lungs. “Thank God they stabilized him. He’s recovering well, but it’s just awful,” Sue said. “This is so horrific; I just can’t believe it.”
Following the incident, officers removed two dogs from a nearby property. “I feel better now that the dogs are gone,” Sue stated, though she admits she still feels constantly on edge and has struggled to sleep. “The trauma and images don’t go away.”
Ralphie, once a playful and laid-back dog, has since become anxious, especially around people entering the house.
Sue expressed disbelief at the unprovoked nature of the attack, saying, “I never dreamed anything so horrific could happen while he was on a lead.”
She urged dog owners to secure their pets properly, especially if they are known to be reactive or are banned breeds.
As Ralphie adjusts to life on three legs, Sue plans to gradually introduce him to other friendly pets once his stitches are removed.
Kent Police confirmed that two dogs were seized following the attack. “An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing,” a spokesperson said, adding that the dogs have been placed in kennels.
The XL Bully breed was banned earlier this year after a series of attacks, and owners are now required to keep these dogs muzzled and on a lead in public spaces.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, it is illegal for any dog to be dangerously out of control, and legal action can be taken if a dog causes fear or injury in public places.
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