A DOG-OWNER from Kidlington was left “beside himself with rage” after an escaped bulldog launched a savage attack on his Rhodesian ridgeback.

The man, who did not wish to be named, was walking his nine-year-old pet in a field by his Wilsdon Way home at about 9am on Thursday when they were confronted by two “American-style bulldogs”.

Police seized the animals under the Dangerous Dogs Act following a brief search.

The owner of the Rhodesian ridgeback – called Cooki – was in a field near his street when he noticed the bulldogs heading towards them.

One of them darted towards the ridgeback and began biting her in the throat. The owner was able to separate the two animals, despite the bulldog lashing out at him, before getting his dog to some shelter in a nearby house.

He said: “These are big, powerful dogs and it was going for the throat. That’s a kill move. It was trying to kill her, but she was able to fight it off.

“Luckily only one of the dogs attacked her. If it had been the two of them they would have torn her to shreds. I'm beside myself with rage.

"My dog is big and powerful but she's friendly and never bitten anybody."

The man – who describes his own pet as loyal, calm and capable of being walked without a lead – said the situation could have been much worse.

He said: “At about 8.15am this morning these dogs were out on the streets at the same time as schoolchildren. This situation could have escalated. It was a real threat.”

A police spokesman said officers were still making attempts to contact the owner of the dogs.