A GUIDE dog who was just weeks from finishing her training might never get to work for the blind after an attack in Swindon town centre.

Grace was guiding her trainer, Philippa Davidson, of Devizes, through The Par-ade, Swindon, at 3.30pm on Tuesday of last week, when a Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type dog bit Grace’s face and held on for about 20 seconds.

The 19-month-old guide dog, who was three weeks away from finishing a lifetime of training at a cost of £33,000, is recovering but will no longer be meeting her potential owner.

Ms Davidson, who has worked for Guide Dogs for nearly 30 years, said: “There was a group of youngsters outside Greggs and I could see they had the dog on a lead. I thought ‘good’, but you are always aware.

“Grace was just doing her job going around them and as she got level this dog shot out from between their legs and grabbed Grace’s face.

“Grace was screaming and trying to pull back. The dog just hung on and it was causing Grace more and more stress. I made a fist and was hitting the other dog on the head. I used my feet as well.

“The young woman wasn’t doing anything other than holding the lead.”

Ms Davidson let go of the harness while trying to get the dog off and, after it released its grip, Grace ran off. She was caught by passers-by but Ms Davidson had left the scene to chase her and when she returned the other dog owner had gone.

Ms Davidson said: “I am just training Grace, but if she was my guide dog I wouldn’t be able to do anything because I wouldn’t be able to see what was going on.”

She took Grace, who had puncture wounds and grazes on her neck, to the vet and she is now on antibiotics and painkillers.

Ms Davidson is hoping Grace will still have a career as a guide dog, but said: “She might associate the harness with what happened.”

Tim Stafford, mobility team manager for Guide Dogs, said: “We have got people waiting for these dogs and things like this affect us.

“We are taking this as seriously as possible. We have seven dog attacks in the UK every month.”

Police have spoken to witnesses and are examining CCTV footage of the scene.

The other dog owner is described as female, blonde with her hair tied up and was wearing all white. Her dog had a white head and dark body. Witnesses or anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.