A man with learning difficulties has been left devastated after his beloved dog and "best friend" was fatally mauled by a Staffordshire bull terrier-pitbull cross.

Max Baer, 34 from Hollymoor Lane, had left his six-year-old Jack Russell, Jack, in the hands of a trusted friend when the attack happened in Highfield Drive, Epsom on Sunday, February 19 at about 4pm.

His mother, Sandra Baer, 58, said: "Max and his friend were absolutely beside themselves.

"The guy had been walking the dog at the bottom of Green Lanes when a lady and a girl and boy in their 20s walked past with a pit bull cross.

"They said that their dog didn’t like other dogs. At that point the dog grabbed my son’s dog and shook it vigorously. My son’s friend had to shake the dog to get it off.

"She had a muzzle in her hand and he said 'why haven’t you got the muzzle on the dog?' She just walked off."

Jack was left with wounds to his back and legs and a two-inch hole in the top of his back.

Mrs Baer rushed him to Putney Veterinary Hospital where he received treatment, however the dog later developed an abscess which went gangrenous and had to be put down on February 25.

She added: "My son s very upset. He’s had this dog for six years and it’s been his best friend and he’s really upset."

Jeanette Oxbrow, 58, a family friend from Lower Kingswood, said: "I feel very strongly as a dog owner myself that the local public should be made aware of this dangerous animal before the owner allows this to happen again.

"I think people should be vetted better. If you are going to get something like a pit bull you need to know what’s going on. It’s never the dog’s fault it’s always the owner. If that had been a child, it’s unthinkable."

The police are now appealing for witnesses to trace the owner of the dog who fled the scene without leaving her details.

She is described as an Asian woman in her 40s, around 5ft 5in and with short black hair.

Her dog had a patch of colour over one eye and was called Buster.

Anyone with information or who knows the owner or the dog should contact Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference EP/12/681.