A little Maltese Yorkshire terrier cross was attacked and lost her eye after being savaged by another dog 10 times bigger.

The elderly owner, Catherine McLean, watched in absolute horror as her cherished pet was chased and caught by the other animal.

Lola was rushed to the vets and amazingly she pulled through and recovered from her shocking injuries which included broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Mrs McLean's vet's bill was £4,800.

The incident happened outside Mrs McLean's house in Holytown, Scotland, on March 8 last year and Graham Gordon admitted being in charge of Hugo, a Presa Canario dog.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard Lola was playing in the front garden when the large dog jumped over the wall and chased her.

Sheriff Alan McKay fined Gordon, 34, of Holytown, £500.

Lola seems to have made a full recovery from her horrific injuries

Mrs McLean, who's had Lola since she was a puppy, said: “Lola tried to hide under a table, but the other dog caught her and had her in his mouth.

“I thought she was dead. She went limp and the dog dropped her.”

Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, told the court: “Hugo jumped over the wall and attacked and bit Lola, a small white fluffy dog.

“Lola ran away, but he chased her and attacked again.

“There was a lot of screaming as witnesses tried to help.

“Lola became lifeless and was removed from Hugo’s mouth.

“She was taken straight to the vet and it was discovered she had four broken ribs, a punctured lung and several puncture wounds.

“There was also damage to her right eye which she subsequently lost as a result of this attack."

Lola was playing in her owner's front garden when another dog jumped over the wall and attacked her

Thankfully Lola, now four years old, has made a full recovery.

Mrs McLean raised £2,500 from an online appeal for the vet's costs and thanked friends and neighbours for their help.

She added: “Everyone knows Lola. People stop to talk to her when they see her in the front garden.

“What happened to her was horrible to witness.

“It worries me to think of the damage that dog could have caused had it attacked a child walking home from school at that time.”

Gordon’s lawyer, Ian Scott, said there have been no other incidents involving the dog which “has not shown a propensity to attack persons”.