A COUPLE whose dog was mauled by a ‘gigantic’ mastiff are trying to track down its owner, after the contact details given turned out to be incorrect.

Adrian Martin, 57, from Highworth Road, in Stratton, said the incident occurred while his wife Janet was on a walk with their two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, in the wood near Stanton Fitzwarren.

The trouble began soon after two mastiff-type dogs approached pint-sized Misty and Cindy.

Mr Martin says that without a second’s warning one of the two dogs, which was not on a lead, lost control and grabbed Misty before “shaking her wildly” in its mouth.

By the time the bigger dog dropped the bleeding spaniel she had suffered puncture wounds to her back and stomach.

The owner then walked his dogs back to his car, before returning to apologise.

He also read out his mobile number and said his name was Barry Wigan.

However, when Mr Martin tried to ring the man in order to speak to him about the attack, the number did not work.

“We’re not sure if he gave the wrong number or my wife just took down the wrong number by accident,” said Mr Martin.

“She was shaking and distressed and could have made a mistake – which is understandable as only moments before she was punching the dog trying to make it release Misty.

“But then again perhaps he just wanted to get out of a sticky situation and gave a false number.

“It has cost our insurance company £400 to have Misty nursed back to health, but it should be his insurance that pays – I would assume he has coverage with dogs like that.

“We decided to come forward to the Adver because we thought someone may know this man – there can’t be many Swindon residents with two of these dogs.”

He added: “My wife has been really upset by all of this, it’s a real shock to the system – but now we will be more careful considering dog owners are so irresponsible these days.

“I think it is a bit silly to have such a big dog without a lead – how can you trust a dog that much? Next time it could be a child that gets attacked.”

Anyone with information can email fharrison@swindonadvertiser.co.uk or call the newsdesk on 01793 501802.