Pet dog killed by off-lead Belgian Shepherd attack

A father is mourning the loss of his dog, Bobby, after a serious attack by a large Belgian Shepherd. Joshua Sonuga, 33, was walking his four-year-old mixed breed dog near Salford when he encountered a man with the Shepherd. The dog was off the lead and attacked Bobby, who was seriously injured. The incident took place last Thursday. Sonuga was trying to avoid the dog when it suddenly ran towards them. Despite putting Bobby on the lead, the Belgian Shepherd, which was much larger, bit Bobby's back. Sonuga asked the man, who claimed to be a dog trainer, to help. However, the man initially responded that the dog was not his responsibility. Bobby required multiple surgeries but sadly did not survive. Sonuga is now facing a veterinary bill of around £12,000, as costs kept rising during Bobby's care. After the attack, the dog trainer's social media account was deleted, raising further concerns about the legitimacy of his training credentials. The owners of the Shepherd later contacted Sonuga to say their dog had been put down and expressed their apologies. However, Sonuga believes they share some blame as the dog had been recently rehomed and was not properly restrained. He urges other dog owners to ensure their pets are covered by insurance to avoid similar financial burdens.