Bailey the Cockapoo was attacked by an XL Bully in Keighley

Bailey, a seven-year-old Cockapoo, was given a 50/50 chance of surviving injuries sustained in a vicious attack from the soon-to-be-banned breed, in Keighley, according to owner Karen Smith.

She said: “It’s not something I ever want to go through again.”

Bailey with owner Karen Smith (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Bailey – who Mrs Smith, her husband, and two children have had since he was eight weeks old – was out on a walk by the river near the family’s house earlier this year when the terrifying ordeal began.

She said: “It’s a nice little walk, just a walk round. I had gone on my own, an evening walk, just a quick 10 minutes.”

Bailey with owner Karen Smith (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Mrs Smith, who classes Bailey as one of her children, said she always puts the Cockapoo on a lead if they come across someone they do not know, or they cannot see them.

She explained this is not because Bailey would go up to them, but just as a precaution.

There was another dog – what would turn out to be the XL Bully – playing in the river off its lead and so Mrs Smith let Bailey off his, presuming the other dog was friendly.

She said: “That dog was running towards us and I instantly knew what was going to happen and nothing could be done really.

“It grabbed Bailey.

“It came face on with him at first.

“It grabbed him by the neck, dragged him into the river and started ragging him around.

“It was just quite lucky another person passing by came in.”

Mrs Smith added: “If he had not been there, he would have literally been dead because there was nothing I could do.”

The attack left Bailey with seven puncture wounds and he was still bloodied after the vets (Image: UGC)

The mother always thought she would step in and intervene if her dog was ever attacked but she admits to just panicking, freezing and screaming at the time.

There was also the consideration of the dog’s sheer size and force and Mrs Smith had to weigh up what might happen in the worst-case scenario.

She said: “Either lose a dog or it could potentially be kids lose their mum.”

Mrs Smith added: “If it was a little dog like Bailey, I would have intervened.”

After the man had managed to get the XL Bully off, Bailey ran home.

Some of Bailey's injuries after the attack (Image: UGC)

Bailey suffered seven deep puncture wounds, including around his neck, and one was worse than the others.

Mrs Smith said: “You could see them all, because the dog was so big, the teeth were so big.”

She added: “When we took him to the vets she took him in and said, ‘I’m not going to lie to you, it will be 50/50 because of the extent of his injuries’.

“They weren’t sure if they were near his main arteries.”

Bailey (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Bailey has a heart murmur which meant sedating him or putting him under to operate was out of the question and the vets kept him in overnight in the hope the bleeding from his injuries would stop.

Mrs Smith said: “I was devastated, we literally didn’t sleep.”

Thankfully, Bailey returned from the vets – bloodied but he had survived the attack.

Bailey with owner Karen Smith (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Bailey with owner Karen Smith (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Mrs Smith said: “I think that is the message, isn’t it? Keep them on the lead, have some common sense.”

XL Bully dogs have long been a point of controversy in the UK, after a number of devastating attacks on dogs and people, including those which have proved fatal.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared in September that he was putting together plans to ban the XL Bully by the end of the year, which will include creating a legal definition of the breed.

Bailey with owner Karen Smith (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

• A man has been dealt with by the court for an offence in relation to this incident.