A SHETLAND pony which almost died after being savaged by a dog in an attack at an animal sanctuary has finally returned home.

Jenny and another horse, Chispa, suffered horrific injuries when a Staffordshire bull terrier attacked the terrified animals at Mistley Place Park.

There were fears Jenny – a 20-year-old Shetland – was so badly hurt she would have to be put down, but she has made an amazing recovery and is back home after emergency surgery and almost a month at the vets.

Owner Cara Taylor, 31, said: “We had to rush her to the vets for emergency surgery but she is improving slowly. The leg wound is quite large but the stomach bites have healed well.”

Jenny still has an open wound on her leg, which has to be cleaned twice a day, and is still on antibiotics, but she is expected to bounce back. She was also bitten on the stomach by the staffie.

The dog’s owner fled with his pet after the attack.

Cara added: “I was extremely worried about both Chispa and Jenny. It was terrible someone left them so badly injured and just ran off, but I’m extremely happy to have Jenny back and be able to see her and look after her every day.”

Treating Chispa and Jenny has cost almost £3,000 in vet bills. Police have launched a witness appeal following the October 12 attack.

Officers are trying to trace the dog’s owner, who is described as white, 5ft 9ins tall and aged in his late twenties or early thirties.

He was wearing a cream or green baseball cap and casual clothing.

The man was with a young girl, aged between seven and 11, who had shoulder-length brown hair. She was walking a black short-haired cross-bred dog on a lead.

Anyone with information should contact PC Paul Kilgannon, at Harwich police station, on 101.