A DOG owner is distraught after his beloved pet suffered fatal injuries while being walked in a Swindon park.

Stephen Townsend has spent the last few weeks worrying about whether his 10-year-old spaniel Doodle will recover after a stranger's dog which was off its leash ran up and mauled her during a routine stroll behind the Broome Manor Golf Course near Coate Water.

Despite round-the-clock care from Drove Vets which helped the timid pooch become well enough to return home, Doodle's condition suddenly worsened this week and her owners made the difficult decision to put her to sleep.

Steve said: "I'm devastated, a lot of people will miss that little dog. That was no way for her to go, it wasn't her time, she still had four or five good years left.

"After a week at the vet's, she was beginning to show encouraging signs so we took her home for a few days and she went on a very short walk - her last one. 

"We fed her by hand and picked her up if she wanted to sit with us, she was doing well, then one of her wounds started bleeding again.

"She looked spaced out and collapsed, so we took her to the vets, who did everything they could and then suggested we think about the best course of action.

"Oddly enough, her attack happened 10 years to the day we first collected her."

Steve's ex-father-in-law took Doodle for a walk on November 5 while Steve and his ex-wife went to London for the weekend - then cancelled their plans and rushed home after hearing about what happened.

Steve added: "He will never get her high-pitched screaming out of his head. 

"Doodle was picking golf balls out of the bushes and carrying them around, and the other dog's owner - aged 40 to 50 - was doing the same thing, and didn't notice when the attack happened. 

"I can't bear to go back to that spot, it's terrible.

"There are a lot of dog lovers and good people in Swindon, but one bad apple has spoiled the bunch. I just want an apology from him, but he's shown no regret or sign of a conscience.

"We won't have a very happy Christmas but will just have to try and move on from this. We've had some lovely messages of sympathy."

They reported the attack to the dog warden but have not heard any news about whether the dog owner has been caught.