A TREASURED family pet lost its eye after a ‘split second’ attack by a Staffordshire bull terrier.

Gizmo the two-year-old black pug received the injury after being scratched through a gap in an iron gate.

Owner Debbie Martin, of London Terrace, Darwen, said she had been devastated at seeing her ‘baby’ injured in such a way.

Miss Martin’s son Martin, 13, was walking Gizmo in London Terrace on Saturday with five-year-old Bradley Taylor, five, the son of a family friend.

She said her son had let go of the dog, but Bradley was still holding the lead when the incident happened.

Miss Martin, who lives with partner Shane Williams and her other son Ben, said: “They were walking past a house and their dog was loose in the front yard.

“They started barking at each other and Gizmo ran towards the gate.

“It all happened in a split second, but the other dog put its paw through the gate and caught Gizmo’s eye.

“When we got him home he was bleeding.”

Miss Martin, who has two other dogs, Lucy and Bully, said she called the vets, but because it was late at night they had to take him to Bury for emergency treatment.

She said: “He had ripped the side of his eye and torn the optic nerve. It broke my heart, I haven’t been eating properly since as my dogs are my babies.

“They said if we got him there sooner they may have been able to save the eye. He was in there for 48 hours and will have to wear a cone collar for a week.

“The treatment cost £550, but my neighbour has paid all the vet bills.”

The owner of the dog declined to comment.