THREE children looked on in horror as a friendly family dog was attacked and bitten by a Staffordshire bull terrier on Rocquaine beach. June Le Gallez – one of the children’s parents and owner of Alfie, the injured golden retriever – was glad the dog did not attack her son, Adam, 12, and his two friends, Bianca Le Conte, 12, and Toby Felbabel, 12.

‘All the children think that if Alfie hadn’t been there, the dog might have attacked them,’ she said.

‘Bianca has decided to go places on her bike because, she says, she can get away quickly. It terrifies me to think what damage it could have done. Alfie weighs 45kg. If it had been a child I dread to think what could have happened. Bianca doesn’t even weigh that much.’

The attack occurred at about 5pm last Friday, when the children were walking with Alfie on the beach opposite their house after school had finished. They let him off the lead and saw a man and a woman with the terrier.

The dog, described as white and brown with a ‘sloppy’ jaw, wore a black harness, but was unrestrained. It ran towards Alfie and the children.

‘At first the children thought it was going to play, but then it jumped on top of Alfie and pulled him to the ground,’ said Mrs Le Gallez.

‘Alfie’s a very big dog. The other dog must be very strong. Even the vet said it was amazing. The policeman yesterday said that if Alfie was a smaller dog, he would have probably been killed.

‘Alfie put up no fight. He’s a very soppy dog, very gentle.’

The children started screaming for the dog to get off Alfie. When the dog started running towards the children, the man ran over.

‘The children were shouting and screaming and, thankfully, they did not go to separate the dogs. They’ve been told to be careful in situations like that. The man arrived and shouted for the dog to get off. He got hold of the harness and walked away, back up the steps opposite our house.

‘By this time, Bianca was crying but the man didn’t say anything to the children. He didn’t speak at all. I was just astounded. I thought he would have consoled the children, come up to the house to talk to us or checked to see if Alfie was injured.’

Mrs Le Gallez was angry at the couple’s lack of concern.

‘If they had stopped and showed concern and Alfie hadn’t been so badly injured, I probably wouldn’t have done anything about it but I am concerned that it could happen again and it might not be a dog next time – it might be a child.’

She added that the children were very distressed.

‘Alfie is obviously in pain. He’s got a very swollen shoulder and a big puncture mark, right down to the muscle.

‘The police took pictures.

‘He’s moping. Usually he’s happy, wagging his tail, but he just

sleeps at the moment.’

Alfie’s veterinary treatment has so far cost Mrs Le Gallez £92. She expects to pay more.

‘I was really worried. Pus was seeping out and the shoulder’s swollen up so much he was limping.’

Alfie’s shoulder has not yet been bandaged, because it is believed there is already an infection. The vet is leaving it open and treating it with antibiotics and painkillers. Alfie is expected to make a full physical recovery but it has had a mental effect on the otherwise happy animal.

The Le Gallez family has since taken him back to the beach. They walk him there every day of the year.

‘When we went back, there was another dog. Alfie was whining, which he doesn’t normally do. We are worried how he will react when he sees another dog.’

Mrs Le Gallez said that people such as the couple walking the terrier should take responsibility for their pets.

‘I don’t want to ban dogs on the beach, but any dog which could be classed as dangerous should be muzzled. In England, when dangerous dogs go out in public places, they must be muzzled and stay on the lead.’

She added that the police officer who spoke to the family agreed.

Police are looking for anyone who might have witnessed the attack or seen the man and woman who were walking the terrier. They are believed to be in their 30s. Mrs Le Gallez said her children described the woman as having long hair tied in a bun or a ponytail. The man was short and overweight. Both had darkish hair.

Witnesses should contact the police on 725111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.