A COUPLE have spoken of their heartache after two dogs mauled their Jack Russell to death on their doorstep.

Ingrid Anglish and John Kenny looked on helplessly as their pet Megan was savaged by two bulldogs on Golden Noble Hill, Colchester.

Mrs Anglish, 56, was leaving the house to take Megan for a walk on Friday morning when two dogs broke out of a yard behind the Twist, in Military Road, and attacked her pet.

She managed to pull Megan inside, but the dogs pushed past her into the house, where they continued to chase the terrified animal.

Mrs Anglish said: “I was closing the front door and she was standing on the first step on her lead when they appeared from nowhere.

“I managed to pick Megan up, but they were jumping all over me.

“They pushed their way indoors and were chasing her all over the house.

“She just kept running and running, but they kept trying to get hold of her to rip her apart.”

Mrs Anglish, Mr Kenny, neighbours and passers-by tried to rescue Megan, but they were unable to stop the ferocious attack, which lasted for ten to 15 minutes.

The dogs’ owner, Ian Dane, who manages the Twist, also intervened, but by the time the dogs were under control, Megan was too badly injured.

She died at the vet’s an hour later.

Mr Kenny, 61, said: “They were wild. They didn’t hear anything, even their owner couldn’t get them to let go.

“I’d like to thank a boy who tried to shield Megan from the dogs with his push bike, although that didn’t stop them. I got a broom and hit them as hard as I could, but they still continued.”

The incident has been reported to Essex Police.

Mr Kenny said: “The fact they could get into someone’s house and do what they have done is frightening. What would have happened if I had been walking out of the door with my two-year-old grandchild?”

Mr Dane said he was fostering the dogs for a bulldog rescue centre. He said both dogs would be put down. He added: “I thought I was doing a good thing by fostering them. I feel very sad for Megan’s owners.”