“I was on the floor with Buddy and there was just blood everywhere, we were both covered in it, it was pouring from his head”
A man and his West Highland white terrier were viciously attacked while waiting outside a Tesco superstore for his wife. Terry and Maria Hunton had stopped at the supermarket on Wednesday, June 11, as they prepared for a weekend trip to Norwich to celebrate Terry’s brother’s 70th birthday.
While Maria went inside to shop, Terry stayed outside with their 13-year-old dog, Buddy. What began as a routine outing quickly turned traumatic. A bull terrier-type dog, tied to a nearby railing, was released by its owner and immediately launched a violent attack, sinking its jaws into Buddy’s head.
Holding back tears, Terry described how he instinctively leapt to protect Buddy. The attacking dog continued biting the small terrier’s head and, in the chaos, also bit 72-year-old Terry on the leg. A second bull terrier-type dog, also previously tethered nearby, is believed to have joined the attack as the owner struggled to pull both dogs away.
Terry said: “It was a big dog that clamped its mouth around Buddy’s head. I just dived in to try and stop it. It felt like it went on forever – blood was pouring from Buddy’s head. I was on the ground with him; we were both covered in blood.”
Unaware of the situation, Maria remained inside Tesco until a customer ran through the store trying to find her. Meanwhile, shoppers and staff tried to help. Eventually, the dogs’ owner managed to pull them away and left the scene with both animals.
A quick-thinking Tesco staff member helped Terry and Maria rush Buddy to a nearby vet. From there, they were directed to ChesterGates Veterinary Hospital, where Buddy was kept overnight. The couple, who have lived in Wallasey for the past ten years, were able to collect him the next morning.
It wasn’t until the following day, Thursday, that Terry realised he had also been bitten. At the hospital, doctors confirmed the wound was from a dog bite and gave him a tetanus shot. Terry also suffered injuries to his hand and head.
Although they were initially told Buddy would recover, concerns grew when he refused to eat over the weekend. During a scheduled check-up on Monday, vets discovered facial swelling and decided to keep him in for further testing.
Terry said: “The vet said he was in a really bad state. They planned to flush his wounds, put him on an IV, and perform a full-body scan. But before we even got home, we got the call – Buddy had suffered a heart attack and passed away.”
Buddy had been with the Huntons since he was a puppy. Terry said: “He was 13 but still full of life. He was a fighter, and we thought he’d pull through. It’s heartbreaking that his life ended this way.”
Since the incident, Terry, a retired offshore worker, has already spent around £900 on vet care and related costs. That figure could rise to as much as £2,500, depending on whether the attacking dog’s owner has insurance.
The couple has now launched a JustGiving page to help cover veterinary bills and the cost of Buddy’s cremation.
Merseyside Police also confirmed officers were called to the scene of the attack, with a 24-year-old man from Bidston being arrested for an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act and has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
Anyone with information is asked to contact @MerPolCC or 101 with reference 25000480038.
To donate to Terry and Maria, click here.
