AN elderly couple ended up in hospital after a vicious dog escaped from its garden and launched an attack at the family pet.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Derek Derbyshire was knocked to the ground by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier as it savaged the Bichon Frise dog he was holding.

Mr Derbyshire’s wife Marjorie was so distressed by what happened that she suffered a suspected heart attack.

In court the dog Razor’s owner Kelly Farlow was sentenced to a six-month curfew but was allowed to keep the dog provided she has him neutered within two months, he wears a muzzle and lead in public and she undergoes dog owner training.

Judge Elliot Knopf was told that it was the second time Razor had attacked another dog.

Seven months prior to the incident involving the Derbyshires, Farlow had been cautioned by Bolton Council over the behaviour of her pet.

Timothy Brennand, prosecuting, said the Derbyshires had been walking their son's dog Misty in Horsa Street, Tonge Moor, on the evening of January 27 when suddenly Razor hurtled out of a front garden.

Realising what might happen, Mr Derbyshire picked up Misty, only to be knocked to the ground by the aggressive dog, who attacked his pet.

Mr Brennand said: “He has an arthritic condition meaning he was unable to get up from the floor.”

Farlow, stood in the doorway of her home, called to her then partner, Stephen Chadwick, who ran from the house and grabbed Razor, apologising and helping Mr Derbyshire to his feet.

Mrs Derbyshire contacted police but then became ill herself.

Mr Brennand added: “She was very distressed by what happened and was suffering chest pains.”

She spent several days in hospital being treated for a suspected heart attack.

Mr Derbyshire was also kept in hospital for observation for two days after suffering bruising and swelling to his knee, leg and hip.

“He says he has never seen a dog act in such a vicious way before,” said Mr Brennand.

Misty suffered serious injuries and had to be sedated and treated at a vets’ for several days at a cost of £500.

When questioned by police, 38-year-old Farlow, who pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control and caused injury, said Razor had jumped the garden fence.

Mark Friend, defending, said she had been paralysed by the sight of the attack and was physically sick.

“This was an unpleasant incident for all concerned,” said Mr Friend.

He added that Farlow had taken on Razor after he was being abused by his former owner and that her dog keeping skills have improved since taking advice from a dog expert.

Sentencing Farlow to a six month 7pm to 6am electronically tagged curfew, Judge Knopf said that she should have been more careful after the first incident when Razor attacked another dog.

The Derbyshires described the sentence as a “disgusting” injustice.

Misty, who is 12 years old, belongs to their son, also called Derek, and the couple were caring for the much-loved family pet while he was abroad celebrating his 50th birthday.

Since the incident, their lives have been badly affected, with Mr Derbyshire, aged 75, still struggling to walk and Mrs Derbyshire, aged 76, on a year-long course of medication to help her recover from the heart attack.

Speaking after the court case she said: “I’m disgusted. Totally disgusted that all she has got is a curfew.

"We expected the dog to be dealt with — we know how we feel about our dog and can’t understand why nothing has been done. It was nasty, really nasty.

“We won’t take the dog out now.

“I was in hospital for a full week. It was a traumatic time for all the family.

“The partner of the girl helped us get the dog off. I was upset and screaming, I thought Misty was dead.

“The dog has recovered but he’s never been the same since.

“If anything had happened it would have broken my heart."

Mr Derbyshire was allowed to go home after hospital treatment but had to return after the wounds on his knees became infected.

He added: “My legs have never been the same. I still suffer a little bit with the pain but it’s nowhere near like it was.

“I know some decent Staffies but that was a naughty dog — it wanted to kill our dog. It knocked me over like I was nothing."