AN ELDERLY toy spaniel with three legs has died after a dog attack in Musselburgh.

The incident happened in the Paddock area near a children’s nursery at about 4.20pm on Friday.

One neighbour claimed that the dog owner was out with her Papillon called Ellie when the animal was “mauled to death” by two “Staffies”.

She said: “Ellie can hardly walk and gets pushed in a dog buggy.”

The neighbour, who declined to be named, said that Ellie, who is believed to have been 15 years old, was out of her buggy ‘to do her business’ when the attack took place.

She claimed: “It was a brutal attack that people witnessed. The owner could do nothing: she tried to save her dog but they had ripped her dog apart at the throat and stomach, and started eating the dog.”

She feared the dogs could strike again, saying: “It might be a child or person next time.

“The poor owner is in bits about this.”

However, the owner of the dogs involved claimed on social media that the attack had taken place after one of his dogs, which the owner said was on a lead at the time, was startled by the Papillon when it emerged from a bush.

He said his startled pet had then grabbed the dog’s neck. His other dog was not involved, he claimed.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We received a report of a dog being killed in the Paddock area of Musselburgh around 4.20pm on Friday, December 6.

“Enquiries were carried out and it was established this wasn’t a criminal matter.

“The incident has been referred to the local authority dog warden.”

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “We are aware of this tragic incident and have been in contact with both sets of dog owners.”

The owner of the deceased dog declined to comment.