Family traumatised after 'beautiful' pet chihuahua Vinnie killed in vicious dog attack – Grimsby Live

He was left with several crushed ribs and extensive organ damage
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A family from Grimsby has been left traumatised after their beloved chihuahua was viciously attacked and killed by another dog.
While walking back from the local corner shop on Sherwood Road on Thursday, brother and sister Nye, 16, and Bryn Marris, 4, witnessed a Staffordshire Bull terrier savagely attack their dog Vinnie. The dog pinned the chihuahua to the ground by his chest, making him unable to move and gasping for air.
Neighbours rushed out of their houses to see if they could help but no one was able to move the animal. It wasn't until someone poured a jug of water on him that he finally let go of the one-year-old family pet.
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Vinnie was rushed to the Blue Cross to see if there was anything that could be done to save him. However, it was too late as he was left with several crushed ribs and extensive organ damage.
His family were forced to euthanise him while he was under anaesthetic as vets believed he was still in a lot of pain. "He suffered, it really wasn't nice for him," said mum Karen Marris, 44.
"Vinnie was so stupid, silly and energetic. He was my daughter's best friend and he deserved better than this," she added. "Bryn and Vinnie did everything together and he was such a beautiful character."
Four-year-old Bryn still seems to be confused by the whole ordeal as Karen says that her daughter still calls for him. "She watched it all happen but she's still struggling to process it," she said.
The whereabouts of the Staffordshire Bull terrier is not yet know, although it's believed that it has history of being aggressive towards other dogs. As a result, Humberside Police have opened an investigation.
A spokesperson from the force said: "We received a report that a dog had been seriously injured following an incident yesterday (Thursday, December 29) at around 12pm. It is believed that a Chihuahua sustained serious injuries having been attacked by another dog whilst out for a walk with its owners on Sherwood Road in Grimsby.
"One of the owners is also reported to have been bitten whilst attempting to help their dog and has understandably been left shaken and upset by the incident. Officers are conducting lines of enquiry to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
"It is an offence to allow a dog to attack or cause serious injury to a person or livestock, or to behave in such a way that makes a person worried that it might attack them. Should a dog attack or be aggressive to a person this would be an offence under the legislation and we’d encourage reports to the police.
"Anyone who witnessed the incident should please call us on our non-emergency number 101 quoting log 169 of 29 December. More information on the control of dogs in a public place can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public."
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