Police have launched an investigation after a pensioner and his dog were badly injured in an alleged unprovoked, vicious attack by another dog while walking a popular footpath.

Retired publisher, John Dupree, 66, received hospital treatment for savage bites to his hands while his cockapoo, Ted, was stitched up by a vet after sustaining several bite wounds to his body.

John says they were set upon by a terrier type dog, described as a Bedlington cross, near Lower Tweed Mill, Dartington.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack, which left John and Ted wounded and bleeding on the riverside path.

The bite to his left hand resulted in a gash so deep it required several stitches and left John unable to drive or dress himself for more than 10 days afterwards.

Both John and Ted were prescribed a course of antibiotics and John’s wife Debbie, 62, is suffering from recurring nightmares about the “frenzied attack” she witnessed.

The couple had just walked past two dogs, who were with a lady in a wheelchair and two other adults, when one of the dogs came up behind Ted and started biting him, said John.

“I picked Ted up in both arms and held him up as high as I could to create a bit of safe space, but this dog kept leaping up and biting him – Ted was squealing in fear,” he said.

“I tried to turn around to protect him but the other dog just kept coming and, I’m not proud about it at all, but to defend myself and to defend my dog I had to try and kick this dog out of way.

“He almost went into a frenzy and just kept coming - leaping and biting and gnashing.

“I was amazed at how high this thing could jump

“I became physically exhausted holding the dog up and trying to beat this dog off.

“The owner was actually the lady in the wheelchair so we appreciate that she couldn’t do much, but the two able-bodied people were doing nothing.

“They didn’t try and call the dog off, they just kept saying “stop kicking the dog.”

“After it subsided there was no apology.”

Debbie added: “At one point I went up to John and put my arms around him and Ted and the dog jumped up and touched me on the cheek – it could have had my eye out he was that high and frenzied.”

It wasn’t until the attack eventually stopped that John realised he had been bitten too, and had a scratch on his neck.

The first thing they did was take terrified Ted to a local veterinary surgery where he was treated under anesthetic.

“There was blood everywhere, he had a really nasty four inch bite by his bottom, one on his side and another on the other side,” said Debbie.

“The vet said he also had lots of other little bites. One was very near his heart or lung chamber, which would have been fatal.”

After hospital treatment for his wounds, John reported the incident to the police along with the contact details of the terrier dog’s owners, who, he said, had agreed to foot Ted’s £1,000 vet bill.

But the attack has left the couple too frightened to return to one of their favourite walks, especially Debbie who used to visit several times a week.

“I can’t help thinking what would have happened if John hadn’t been there,” she said.

“I can pick Ted up but I couldn’t hold him for very long.

“I used to do that walk three times a week and now I feel I can’t go there any more.”

Police say they are investigating reports of a dog “not under proper control” injuring a man and his dog, and are appealing for witnesses.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokeswoman said: “Police are investigating reports of an incident of a dog not under proper control on Totnes road on Saturday 12 February.

“It was reported that at around 10.35am, a dog caused injury to a man and his dog as they were out walking.

“The man sustained cuts to both his hands and the dog required vet treatment.

“Enquiries remain ongoing in relation to this matter.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact police on 101 quoting CR/012908/22.”