A FAMILY was left shocked and angry when their dog was the victim of a vicious attack on Brean Sands.

Holidaymaker Karen Riste was walking along the beach last Friday with her daughter Ceri and their two cairn terriers when one of their pets was set upon by a large black dog.

In the attack, the dog, named Dart, was badly bitten, resulting in wide lacerations along his side.

Karen, from Caerphilly, said: “There was a group of people with dogs “Our dogs just went up to them. But one dog was obviously vicious as the man was attempting to put a muzzle on him.

“Suddenly, the black dog escaped from the man and pounced on my dog, biting his rear left side above his hind leg, and wouldn’t let go.

“The man ran after him and tried to restrain him but the dog wouldn’t let go.

“Eventually, the man managed to get his dog off. He had to rugby-tackle him and was having great difficulty in controlling him.

“Dart was bleeding and had a hole in his side and a deep laceration to his back.

“I said that he should pay for the vet as his dog was the one who attacked. He then turned and said that it was my dog that was out of control as he went up to them.

“My daughter and I were so upset and just wanted to get Dart to a vet and away from the dog.

“The group of people just walked away and left us, refusing to give names or contact information.”

The distressed family got Dart to Blake Vets in Bridgwater where the injured dog had his wounds treated and stapled and a drain was fitted.

Ceri said: “I’m really angry at this bloke letting this dog on the beach.

“He told us where the vet was and then just carried on walking away with the others.”

Karen said: "My daughter and I are feeling terrible. We obviously hardly slept that night and we couldn't eat at all until arriving back home in Caerphilly.

"I hope other dog walkers will be on the look-out and be extra careful."