A woman suffered severe injuries during a ferocious dog attack while walking her pet.

Louise Hetherington is still in excruciating pain two weeks after the incident in Sandwith, which left her needing daily hospital treatment.

The 46-year-old was walking her pet, Poppy, along Back Lonning when the brindle-coloured bull-terrier/lurcher-type dog pounced from behind a hedge and carried out the frenzied attack.

It started to attack her nine-year-old Kerry Blue Terrier, so Mrs Hetherington jumped in to separate the dogs and was badly bitten.

“It came out of nowhere and started barking,” she said. “I tried to separate the two of them and the dog bit my right arm. I managed to get it off one arm and then it went on to the other. Poppy ran back to the house and sat on the front step.”

After prising the dog off, it ran away across the fields, so Mrs Hetherington rushed home and tended to Poppy, who was thankfully not seriously injured. She then realised that she was covered in blood and ran to a friends for help.

She went to her doctors but had to later go to hospital as the pain became unbearable.

Mrs Hetherington was put on intravenous antibiotics and had to attend the hospital three times a day, for three days, to have them administered.

“My hands are still appalling,” she said. “I have no movement in one. I just want to cry – I’m a wreck. Poppy quivers as well, this has knocked the stuffing out of us both.”

Mrs Hetherington, who has owned terriers for around 30 years and shows her dogs, reported the incident to police and informed local farmers – who have lambs in the fields – to be vigilant.

She has praised the staff at the West Cumberland Hospital for the care she received, saying it was “exceptional.”

The dog was around knee height and was wearing no collar. Mrs Hetherington believes it had been out on the streets for a while as it was dirty and wet.

The attack took place about 11am on Wednesday, April 12. Anyone who recognises the dog, should call police on 101.