Dog Attack Leaves 6-Month-Old Foal With 'Horror Film' Wounds On His Leg

A young horse is fighting for his life after a suspected dog attack left him with severe injuries Monday afternoon.

One source said that Denby sustained about 18 wounds in addition to what was described as a “horrific open wound” above his left foreleg.

The attack on the six-month-old foal happened in Derby between 5:30 p.m. And 6:00 p.m.

Owners Jacqueline Bantock and his partner, Robert Plume, found Denby in the field that he shares with Devon, a four-year-old gelding. Horse and Hound reported that the landowner had seen both horses grazing at the aforementioned time, but the attack had already happened by the time their owners returned “some 25 minutes later.”

“He likes lying down to sunbathe, and at first I thought that's what he was doing,” Bantock said to the outlet.

She added that Plume noticed some hair on the ground, but a closer look revealed “more hair with blood on it.”

Denby's owners rushed him to the Scarsdale veterinary practice in Markeaton Lane in an effort to save the animal that they've only had for six weeks.

“Our other horse has been acting as a mother figure for Denby, he must be traumatized by what happened,” Plume added.

Veterinarians confirmed to the couple that Denby was indeed attacked by a dog. Bantok also said that they saw paw prints “as well as deep hoofprints” where the horses had been running around.

Devon wasn't attacked during the encounter and she believed that the dog went after Denby because of his small structure.

Plume reported that animal doctors clean Denby's wounds and gave the foal painkillers, and that they're “doing everything they can at the moment.”

Bantock also claimed that veterinarians “can't stretch the skin over the wound” because the dog bit a big chunk out of Denby's foreleg.

“It looks like something out of a horror film.”

The chances of Denby surviving are not that great, and that the “full extent” of his injury will only be known after he has an x-ray.

“Someone must have seen a dog with blood on it. Now that the dog has had a taste of blood, it could happen again to another animal or child,” said Bantock.

The couple are offering a reward of £ 100 for any information that may lead them to the whereabouts of the dog and its owner. Derby Telegraph posted that the owners visited a building site near the area and checked if there were CCTVs installed that may help them “find out what happened.”

“There should be a new law out there about keeping dogs like that on leads. I just need to know if anyone has any information,” expressed Bantock.