A dog was almost killed by two pit bulls in a savage attack which the owner fears could have been on a child.

Angela Dodds was traumatised after her beloved pooch, Trixie, was set upon by two American pit bulls in Saltcoats at the weekend. The vicious dogs, whose owner is unknown, “appeared from nowhere” and mauled the Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso cross.

Angela rushed Trixie to the vets, who performed emergency surgery on the small dog. But the mum is terrified of losing Trixie as she might not be able to afford the estimated £1,100 for the rest of her treatment.

Angela told the Herald: “It could have been a child. I’m traumatised.

“I tried to get my dog away, but it wasn’t possible. I just screamed and screamed. Trixie was squealing and crying, she just went limp.”

Luckily, Angela’s neighbour came out and was able to pick up Trixie and take her indoors.

Angela said: “If it wasn’t for him my dog would’ve been dead because by this time it had her by the neck and the other was biting her on the other side.

“She’s got eight puncture wounds. I’m frightened in case her wounds get infected. She was bleeding during the night again.

“I love her to bits. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Police said: “At 4.50pm on Sunday, October 13 police received reports of a dog being attacked by two other dogs on Smith Drive, Saltcoats. The injured dog was taken by its owner to the vet for medical treatment. No persons have been charged in relation to this incident at this time.”

Angela’s family have set up a Crowd Funding page to help raise the £1,100 needed to treat Trixie. Donate at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/angela-dodds