Horse badly injured by dog in Christmas Eve attack

The owner of a horse that was attacked by a dog on Christmas Eve in Derby, has appealed to ITV Central viewers to help find who's responsible.

Natalie Rodgers told ITV Central her horse was grazing in her paddock at the bottom of Field Lane in Alvaston, next door to End Cottage Kennels.

She says she, her husband and their three-year-old grandson went to tend to the horse at around 1:40pm on Christmas Eve, where they say they found her covered in blood with serious injuries to her body, face and back leg.

Natalie says an emergency vet attended and said "the horse is lucky to be alive because of the deep cut to her face which was millimetres away from severing a main artery". She says the horse had to be sedated for emergency veterinary treatment.

Natalie also says the vet confirmed the injuries are from a dog, and that the attack happened shortly before the family arrived at the field.

The family is urging the dog owner to come forward, or anyone who was near Field Lane Park/playing fields on Christmas Eve, to come forward. Natalie is asking people to call Derbyshire Police on 0345 123 3333 quoting Ref:1245 24/12/2018.