A DOG is fighting for its life and its owner s hand has been savaged following a vicious attack by what appeared to be two huskies on the loose. Gwynneth Bromley was walking her dog with her partner along Woodland Drive in St Albans at around 6pm on Satur

A DOG is fighting for its life and its owner's hand has been savaged following a vicious attack by what appeared to be two huskies on the loose.

Gwynneth Bromley was walking her dog with her partner along Woodland Drive in St Albans at around 6pm on Saturday evening when the terrifying ordeal happened.

The 63-year-old, who lives in nearby Hazelwood Drive, explained that her 16-year-old collie called Ben was attacked and bitten three times by two roaming dogs which had suddenly appeared from around the corner without an owner.

As she tried to save Ben from the dogs, which are thought to have escaped from a nearby block of flats, one of the attacking animals ripped her hand open causing serious damage which is likely to be badly scarred.

But more than four days after the incident police have yet to take any action against the owner although they have insisted an arrest is imminent.

A devastated and deeply-shocked Gwynneth said: "Ben has a deep puncture wound to his back and another two further up. The two dogs just dragged him to the ground and were trying to bite him round the neck.

"I grabbed them by the fur as they have a lot of fur around their necks and I managed to get their heads up, and my partner managed to get Ben from underneath."

Gwynneth and her partner, Hugh Gemmell, moved Ben onto a nearby driveway and shielded him from the two dogs which continued to pursue him before chasing two women at the other end of the street. The couple then called the police before knocking on the door of a nearby house where a woman offered to take them home in her car.

Ben, who was already suffering from kidney problems, spent the night at the Royal Veterinary College in North Mymms and had to undergo emergency surgery which required a potentially dangerous general anaesthetic.

He has not eaten since the attack which has left him "in a daze" and Gwynneth, who has slept downstairs next to him every night this week, is uncertain if he will pull through.

She is outraged that the police haven't arrested the owner yet and is terrified that they could attack another dog or even a child.

The dogs were captured by the police on the night of the incident and Gwynneth understands that they were given back to the owner that same night.

She said: "My hand is infected and my dog has not eaten since the attack and I'm not sure whether he is going to survive it or not, I don't know. And the police don't seem to be doing anything about it.

"I'm not after revenge - all I want to know is that it is safe to walk outside my house. Other people round here are also scared to go out now."

She added: "I think people need to be warned. I think these dogs are beautiful and are well cared for and I'm sure it's just the fact they got out and got into pack mode. But they were prowling - they were on the hunt for something."

A police spokesperson confirmed that the owner or owners would be arrested for allowing a dangerous dog to be out of control in a public place.

On Wednesday she said the action was imminent.