A Bradford dog owner whose beagle was mauled by a loose Japanese akita is considering taking legal action against West Yorkshire Police.

Antony Barnett, 50, said he was told by an officer that two akita dogs had escaped from a house when police broke a door down during a “police incident”.

Mr Barnett said he was forced to climb a tree as his 12-year-old dog Loui, was subjected to a “terrifying” attack by one of the dogs, as they took a walk on Idle Moor.

The father-of-two, of Coppice View, Idle, said: “One grabbed my dog by its neck and started ragging it all around.

“I went over to them and the other dog started coming for me. My dog in the meantime was shouting in pain. I was throwing stones at it (the akita), trying to get it away.

“So I had to climb up a tree and it started circling around. It was like a lion, it was terrifying.”

He said his neighbour had called police, who were waiting at his home when he returned, after he and another dog walker eventually managed to rescue Loui.

The dog was left with gashes on his neck and has needed surgery – the vet bill so far runs to £500.

Mr Barnett said the police had been “very helpful” and taken him to the vets but that an officer had told him the dogs had escaped from a house where police had been sent.

He said: “The police said there had been a police incident in the area. They had gone into the house and didn’t know the dogs were in the house.

“The dogs had escaped when they broke the door down.

“I need some compensation to pay my vets bills, so that’s why we are considering legal action against the police.”

Mr Barnett added that he wanted to thank Lesley Beebe, the dog walker who helped him rescue Loui.

A police spokesman would not comment whether police were present when the dogs escaped but confirmed that officers had been looking for a dog which had broken free from a house. He said: “Any claim that is received will be carefully considered by the Force solicitor.”

It is believed the akitas have been returned to their owner.