A teenager witnessed an horrific attack on the family's pet by another dog in which the animal's skin was ripped off – but police are not taking any action against the owner because they say no criminal offence was committed.

Amanda Chase, 35, and her two foster children Chay Evans, 18, and Betsy Hoffman, 17, were walking with their crossbreed dog, Troy, in Sloughbottom Park, Mile Cross, on Monday morning when the attack took place.

Ms Chase, who lives off Aylsham Road, said: 'Troy was running away from the dog, a pointer cross, when he was attacked. The other dog ripped the skin off him and he cried out – something he never does.

'My foster son, Chay witnessed it and he said that Troy was missing a huge flap of skin after the attack. There was blood all over Troy's body and it was horrible.

'It's a bit frustrating that the police cannot do anything about it.'

She said that the other dog was with its owner, who refused to come to their aid. However, two other men helped lift Troy into their car and he was immediately taken to a vet where his 20cm wounds were stitched up.

The cost of the veterinary bills to the family are currently about �400, she said, and the family has been told that Troy might not fully recover from the attack.

Ms Chase, who works with children in care, said the family is considering taking civil action against the other dog owner in the courts, as police said that no criminal offence had taken place.

A Norfolk Constabulary spokesman said: 'We can confirm that we were alerted to an incident involving two dogs at Sloughbottom Park, on Drayton Road, Norwich on Monday, July 4 at approximately 9.55am.

'Investigations have established that no criminal offences have taken place and both dog owners have been advised accordingly.'

The incident comes amid a spate of dog attacks in the city that have fuelled calls for more to be done to protect pets.

In yesterday's Evening News, the mother of a nine-year-old-boy in Goldsmith Street, off Dereham Road in Norwich, who was mauled by a bulldog, spoke about his attack, and a man was charged with allowing a dog to be out of control in a public place.

Families in the West Pottergate area of Norwich have also been calling for the city council to introduce a dog control order there.

Speaking yesterday in a parliamentary debate on dangerous dogs, Norwich South MP Simon Wright called on local authorities and the government to take further action.

He repeated calls for Norwich City Council to tackle the issue following recent incidents in the city.

Do you have a crime story for the Evening News? Contact Evening News reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.