The owner of a “beautiful” husky nearly torn apart by two vicious XL Bully’s has told of how she “broke down” when finding the dogs’ owner had been jailed for two years. 

Marie Hay was walking her white husky Naevia in Redcar on February 5 last year when the two dogs rampaged across the beach and launched a near-fatal attack on her beloved pooch. 

Naevia was left with catastrophic injuries after being nearly “torn to death” in the bloody incident, which was watched by families and children, leaving Marie with an over £14,000 vet bill. 

Naevia and Marie following the attackNaevia and Marie following the attack (Image: UGC)

Today (August 30), at Teesside Crown Court, owner John Pickering - who was accused of keeping the dangerous animals for ‘nefarious reasons’ - was jailed for two years and given a lifetime ban from owning pets. 

Both XL Bully dogs have also since been destroyed.

Marie - who had a police officer attend the hearing in her absence - was near Majuba Beach in Redcar when she found out the news over the phone. 

“When I got the call, I just broke down,” she said. “I have never cried so much. All I wanted was for him to be banned from having dogs.

John PickeringJohn Pickering (Image: Cleveland Police)
“I knew his dogs would be put to sleep - but that too makes me sad, because I am an animal lover. But it was not safe for them to be released. 

“I wish I had it in me to have gone in a way, because I think the judge was so compassionate to me and my family’s feelings.” 

Marie, from Nunthorpe, said the “mauling” lasted 12 to 15 minutes and thanked those who “risked their own lives” to step in and help. 

Naevia and MarieNaevia and Marie (Image: UGC)

The ordeal also saw her then-19-year-old daughter have to carry Naevia as her other daughter, who was just five years old and has autism, watched on in horror. 

“It’s raw everyday,” she said. “I look at Naevia and I cry everyday. My kids laugh at me - it is a standing joke now that she can’t do anything wrong because she nearly died.” 

Marie, who works in education, said the attack left Naevia’s shoulders both “ripped off” as well as leaving her with bite wounds “all over her body” including near her neck and jugular. 

Naevia is now on the road to recoveryNaevia is now on the road to recovery (Image: UGC)

But, miraculously, Naevia, now eight, survived the serious injuries.

She’s now got a sister in American Eskimo Saxa, who Marie bought in March with hopes she would help Naevia improve around other dogs. 

Naevia is still “very sensitive” following the incident, only going for her first full grooming session last week. But, thankfully, she is “totally fine” in herself. 

Naevia nowNaevia now (Image: UGC)

 

‘Savage and despicable’ incident

The court heard how John Pickering’s dogs jumped out of his car before the attack took place, with the judge lambasting the 51-year-old for not being able to control the pair.

Recorder Anthony Hawks heard how Pickering’s mental health had declined after his son was murdered as the result of a family feud, and he intended to breed the dangerous dogs.

However, the judge told him that only made matters worse for him.

Pickering, of Eastwood Road, Middlesbrough, previously pleaded guilty to being the owner in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. 

Gary Wood, mitigating, told the court how his client’s life had been turned upside down by the murder of his son: “It had a great impact on his emotional and mental health, so much so that he turned to misusing drugs and alcohol – his mental health was at a really low ebb.”

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“I don’t think I have stopped crying since,” mum-of-four Marie said.

“For the last couple of days, I haven’t slept or been able to eat. But I am absolutely over the moon and I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.” 

Now, Marie and Naevia are set to go on a sponsored walk to raise money for Wag & Company North East Friendship Dogs, alongside the team from Wear Referrals, who saved Naevia’s life.