AN ELDERLY man has been left traumatised after his dog was attacked by a Rottweiler.

81-year-old Raymond Geddes was walking his dog Kimi on Durham Road when the 10-year old Westie was attacked by a Rottweiler cross.

The former Blackburn with Darwen labour councillor had been talking with a fellow dog walker when the dog, which was not on a lead, charged towards them.

He said “The lady I was with shouted ‘look out’ and this big dog came running down the hill towards us.

“He went for her dog first, but hers is quite a big dog, so it turned and went for mine and sunk its teeth into her neck.

“The men were still about 30 yards away coming down the hill so I hit the dog with my walking stick and it turned round and knocked me over.

“Eventually the men caught up and managed to get his dog off mine.”

The police were called and Mr Geddes, who has recently finished treatment for prostate cancer and suffers with angina was taken to Royal Blackburn A and E for a check up.

He said “Luckily the fall didn’t do any damage, but the doctor said the ordeal might have made my angina worse.

“I haven’t slept properly since it happened, I keep seeing it happen again and again. These people need to be found and the dog needs to be dealt with.

“Imagine if it had been a young child instead of my dog, it would have had no chance.

“If the lady had not been there to help me up I might have been savaged.

“All this could have been prevented if he had just kept his dog on a lead.

“One thing I will say, the other lad with the Husky had his on a lead and was shouting ‘get him off ‘ so I don’t blame him.”

Mr Geddes’ dog was taken to the vets but they were unable to stitch her wounds as she had developed an infection from the dog’s mouth.

Mr Geddes’ wife said: “The vet said if it had been an inch deeper it probably would have killed her.

“She has had her neck shaved and we have to wash the wound out and give her antibiotics six times a day.

“She’s not herself anymore, she was such a happy dog and she loved being around people and other dogs.

“All that’s gone away now, she’s gone right into herself and is totally withdrawn.

“She hides behind furniture when people come round, it’s just awful to see her this way. At least Ray is OK, they gave him an X-ray at the hospital but thankfully he’s only got bruises.”

A spokesman from Lancashire Police press office said: “We responded to an incident on Bright Street/Durham Road at around 5.25pm on Sunday.

“A witness saw a Westie attacked by a Rottweiler. The owner of the Westie is believed to have fallen on the uneven land while trying to protect his dog.

“We are seeking the owners of the dogs, should anyone have any information call 101 and quote 1062 the 20th.”