A DARFIELD man has praised the actions of a 'true hero' who stepped in after his wife and two dogs were attacked by a rogue Neapolitan bull mastiff.
Chris Clay's wife Sarah was setting off to walk their two miniature schnauzer dogs Theo and Archie at 6.30pm on Saturday evening from their home on Barnsley Road when the Neapolitan bull mastiff attacked.
Keith Gill, who was driving on the road with his wife and daughter, saw what was happening and sprang into action.
Chris said: "The dog had grabbed hold of one of our dogs like a soft toy, shaking it. I think we are lucky it hasn't broken a neck. It's jaws were locked around our dog's body.
"Keith dragged them away, split them up and got both our dogs on the bonnet of his car. Keith came in and stood and helped us stop the bleeding while his wife reported it to the police."
After the dogs underwent £2,000 of emergency surgery that night, Keith returned to Chris and Sarah's to see how they were getting on. He has since kept in touch with the couple.
"We have never met this man before and I truly believe that if he had not been brave enough to stop and help neither of my dogs would have survived and I think that my wife would have been attacked next," Chris said.
Keith, who lives on Mary Street, Little Houghton, said his car was left with scratch marks on the bonnet and he was left with a bruised arm from the mastiff, who was trying to get at the dogs he was protecting.
