AN 11-year-old rescue dog was savaged by another while out on a walk.

Robbie the Border Terrier was walking along Halliwell Road with his owner Sandra Coop, aged 72, when he was set upon by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type dog said Ms Coop.

Ms Coop, of Grove Street, said the other dog almost tore Robbie's lower jaw off in the attack.

Ms Coop tried to get her dog free using a walking stick belonging to the other dog's owner and tried prising its jaw apart with her fingers, she also received a bite for her efforts.

She said: "I was distraught when it happened. I didn't think he would come home actually. I woke up at 5am this morning, I could hear him whimpering."

Ms Coop had been for an appointment and was walking back past Farmfoods when the attack happened at about 1pm on Monday.

She said a couple were sat by the store drinking with their dog in front of them. As Robbie can be "a bit yappy" she moved him to the other side of her away from the dog she was approaching.

She said: "I know what [Robbie's] going to be like when I pass a dog but this other one thought 'well, I'll have a meal'."

She added: "The bloke had a walking stick, they didn't try and get him off my dog. I got this bloke's walking stick to try and put it in its mouth ­— I thought he had taken his lower jaw off ­— I tried with my fingers and he bit my finger."

Eventually the dog let go and Ms Coop described how people had gathered around her to try and help. She said: "His jaw was hanging and my hands were full of blood."

She praised the manager of Farmfoods, Wayne, who helped and brought paper towels for her and thanked members of the public Andrea Brook and Kirsty who helped ring her friend Margaret Lea who took her to Vets4Pets.

The vet bill was £523 and Ms Brook has set up a gofundme page to raise money to help Ms Coop with her bills.

The page has so far raised £80. To donate find the page on gofundme.co.uk by searching "vets bill for margaret".

Ms Coop has reported the incident to police and the council dog warden has visited her home.