An elderly pet owner from Whitton is calling for tougher rules on dog attacks after his pet greyhounds were savaged by a 'devil' dog.

Bert Habicht, 70, of Powder Mill Lane, was walking Sonny and Decky in Heathfield Recreation Ground, when a rottweiler ran up and grabbed hold of Sonny with its teeth.

The dog, which he claims was not on a lead, then turned its attention to Decky, nearly ripping his tail off.

The beast only stopped when the owner dragged him away. The greyhounds were rushed to an animal hospital in Putney, where vets fought to save Sonny's life.

The mauling was so severe the rottweiler ripped through the dog's back into its muscle.

"What worries me is that I have a granddaughter and if this rottweiler can do this to another dog, I dread to think what it could do to an child or an adult," he told the Chronicle. 

"This attack came totally out of the blue. My poor old dogs didn't even have a chance to fight back."

The drama unfolded at 5.30pm on Sunday, November 9, as Mr Habicht was walking his 10 and 11-year-old pets.

Describing the attack on Sonny, he said: "You've never heard such screaming from a dog before. It was horrendous."

Mr Habicht was told that it was touch and to whether his pet would live.

Sonny remained in the animal hospital for three nights, before pulling through, while Decky, who needed stitches to his tail, was kept in for one night.

Mr Habicht reported the attack to the RSPCA, officers at Twickenham police station and Richmond Council.

He was told no action could be taken because the attack was dog on dog, although the police promised they would log the incident.

But he believes the authorities should do more to take action in such cases.

Mr Habicht is now in discussions with the owner over payment for the treatment.

An RSPCA spokeswoman confirmed prosecutions only tend to take place where an attack had been launched deliberately.

"Tragically these things do happen," she added. "Responsible dog owners should make sure their animals are under control at all times and kept on a lead if in a park with other dogs around."