A YOUNG pregnant woman and her partner who were savaged by two dogs while walking at Westbury White Horse say they are lucky to have escaped without serious injury.

Emily Vickery, 23, who is 37 weeks pregnant, and her partner Sam Myford, 27, of Westbury, were walking their two Chihuahuas on Tuesday (April 18) evening when they were approached by two mastiff-type dogs.

As the couple picked up their pets to keep them out of harm’s way, the two dogs started biting their legs and arms in an attempt to get at the Chihuahuas.

“Me and my partner always walk our dogs on their leads and be careful as they are only small, but then the two dogs came towards us and scared our pets. We picked them up but the other two dogs were biting at our ankles, bums, legs, anything they could.

"A man called Kim O’Mally saw us and started honking his horn to scare off the dogs. Thankfully he got us into his van and we got away. I don’t want to think about what could’ve happened if he hadn’t arrived,” said Ms Vickery.

Ms Vickery went straight to hospital, worried that the stress of the attack had caused her to go into labour, while Mr Myford took their pets to the vet. One of the dogs is still at the vets after treatment, while they have been able to take their other pet home.

“Basically I was in shock and I had a contraction but I didn’t go into labour and I was allowed out of hospital that night. I am just thankful that it wasn’t any worse but I am still in shock,” she added.

Mr Myford has since noticed posts on Facebook blaming the couple for the incident, saying their Chihuahuas were the cause of the attack.

Mr Myford said: “There is a woman on Facebook who is saying that our dogs provoked the attack as they were barking. Well of course they were barking, they were scared of these two bigger dogs. We had one lady who was walking two young Great Danes off their leads come near us, the Great Danes came up to us fast but they were fine, they were very playful so I said not to worry to the owner.

“The woman who owned the mastiffs was asking me to help put them back on leads when they were trying to get our dogs, I was too busy trying to protect my family.”

Wiltshire Police are trying to trace the owner of the dogs, which were both dark and muscley and have issued an appeal for witnesses. They want to speak to a woman, believed to be in her late 60s, wearing glasses, a black jacket, black leggings and brown boots, who was driving a green Mini, in relation to the attack.

PC Matt Fry, of Wiltshire Police, said: “We are carrying out a full investigation into this incident and I would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who may recognise the description of this woman.

"Please get in touch via 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if preferred.”