A TERRIER died after she was mauled by a pair of Japanese mountain dogs.

Now, the pup’s owner has called on vets and breeders to give more advice and information on responsible pet ownership to those who have bought a new dog.

Trudi Wagner paid tribute to 16-month-old Border terrier Millie, who was attacked by a pair of Akita-type dogs at Angel Ridge park, Okus.

“She was just a beautiful soul, happy and joyful,” said South Marston event manager Trudi, 51. “We had such a bond. I loved her more than I loved any human. I will never forget a minute I spent with her.”

Trudi and Millie were walking with a friend through the park on the Okus development at around 1.20pm on Sunday when the two larger dogs approached them. The Akitas, a breed originally from Japan, began growling at small Millie.

She said: “Before I knew it the dogs had set upon her, pinned her down and were biting and trampling her.”

The dogs’ owners were nowhere to be seen. As the large dogs were tearing at terrier Millie, a car pulled up. The driver claimed to be looking after the Akitas, which had escaped from a home nearby.

A teenage girl got out of the car and tried to round them up, although one managed to evade her clutches. Trudi was at last able to pick Millie up: “She was bleeding and very shocked. When the attack was happening she was yelping and crying, but when I picked her up she snuggled into me and just went quiet. That’s never a good sign.”

The terrier was taken to Drove Vets on Croft Road. Millie, who had been bitten in the neck, was given pain relief and Trudi was told the dog would have to be kept in overnight. Scans revealed significant internal bleeding. Millie died in the early hours of Monday morning, as veterinary surgeons tried to save her.

Recalling the moment she was told her dog had died, Trudi said: “It was disbelief. I kept thinking it was not possible, that they couldn’t be telling me this.”

Following the attack, Trudi and her friends posted appeals on Facebook for information about the dogs and their owners. Hundreds of people have since shared and commented on the posts and a memorial walk is planned for a future date. Trudi said she had been moved by the outpouring of support on the social media site.

She said the incident was being investigated by council dog wardens and urged people to report information about dog attacks to the borough officers.

But Trudi, who had done five years’ research into different breeds before buying Millie, also claimed more needed to be done to educate people in responsible pet ownership. “Breeders should be giving information to new owners. Vets should be stressing the importance of the right training when they give puppies their initial checks.”