THE owner of a dog smashed in the face by a thug with a cricket bat have hit out at the four- month jail term imposed on him.

The three-year-old Lurcher, had his jaw rebuilt by a vet following the attack on July 20.

Christopher Jackson, aged 23, of Cartmel Crescent, Tonge Moor, was arrested for the attack and pleaded guilty to animal cruelty when he appeared at Bolton Magistrates Court the following day. He was sentenced to four months in prison.

Denise Frain, also of Cartmel Crescent, who owns the dog, named Anubis, said: "I just don't think four months in prison is enough for what he did. My husband has had to sell his motorbike to pay part of the vet's bill and it's going to be a struggle to find the rest of it, but what can we do.

"We had thought of taking out a civil action but we were advised that it would be like throwing good money after bad."

Bolton Magistrates' Court heard that Jackson attacked Anubis in front of a crowd of witnesses leaving the animal unconscious in a pool of blood.

He struck after the lurcher barked at his own dog, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Jackson was arrested shortly afterwards.

Mrs Frain, said: "We were told Anubis had a 50/50 chance of survival. His jaw was shattered.

"We've no idea why he did it. Anubis is very playful but he wouldn't hurt a fly.

"Me and the kids had run out of the house when we heard Anubis bark. The kids started screaming and crying when they saw him lying in a pool of blood in the middle of the road. I thought he was dead.

"The vet had to wire his top jaw to rebuild it.

"He also suffered severe concussion and lost some teeth. They had to wait until he was stable before they could operate.

"He is not the same dog as he was before all this happened.

"If he's left on his own he starts howling and he is easily frightened."

Vet bills have come to more than £300 so far, but the Frain family expect the final total to be double that amount.

Jackson was not ordered to pay any compensation.