A GOOD Samaritan came to the aid of a boy and his dog after the animal was badly mauled in a vicious attack on the pet on Weydown Common, Haslemere. Now the family of 12-year-old Christy Caudrey want to thank the stranger as well as warn other dog owners after the attack on their whippet, Rocco, which left him with a shattered tibia, punctured lung, injuries on both back legs, face, a torn ear and puncture wounds underneath his eye. Rocco was only able to take a few steps before callapsing last Wednesday afternoon near the scene of the attack, which took place near the path between Bunch Lane and Wispers School. Sally Caudrey, of Pine View Close, said her son was very upset about the incident. Rocco had gone ahead when Christy heard a loud barking, then Rocco yelping in pain. When the boy reached the scene, the other dog had gone. After Rocco collapsed, Christy picked him up and carried him through the woods to the road, where a woman stopped in her car and took them home to Pine View Close. Mrs Caudrey said: "Christy was walking towards the path, around Wispers School, when he heard a load barking and then Rocco yelping. He went down there and then saw him taking five steps before Rocco collapsed. "I want to warn people that it happened and that there is a dog around there that will do that and to ask for information if anybody has suspisions. "Also there are rope swings near there where children go. Although the dog warden said it was unlikely that a dog would attack a child, people do not want their pets attacked." The incident has been reported to police and Waverley dog wardens. Rocco was taken to Woodland vets, Chestnut Avenue, before going to their Midhurst surgery to prepare him for surgery last Friday evening, at a Tilford referrals unit. The family were finally able to bring him home on Monday afternoon. Mrs Caudrey said there was concern that three- year-old Rocco might not survive or make it through the operation to save his leg. She said: "His leg might have to be amputated if it gets infected. He won't be able to go out for eight weeks. "The vet said from the bite marks, it could have been a small dog such as a Jack Russell." She added: "Rocco is a lovely dog, very sociable and he would never start a fight."
