A WOMAN has made a plea to dog owners after her mother's chihuahua was mauled to death on a South Ayrshire beach.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that her mum's dog, Pixie, was mauled and killed by a greyhound who was off the lead at Croy Beach near Maybole.

She said the greyhound ripped Pixie out of her harness from her owner's arms.

The chihuahua later died of her injuries, leaving the family "heartbroken and traumatised".

And now the family are hoping that their message gets through to other dog owners so that a similar incident does not happen.

The woman said in a social media post: "Last weekend my mum's chihuahua, Pixie, was mauled and killed by a greyhound who was off lead at Croy beach.

"My mum had Pixie on a lead and had picked her up when she saw the dog charging towards them.

"The greyhound ripped Pixie out of her harness from my mum's arms. We lost our beautiful girl. She was only five years old.

"We are absolutely heartbroken. Our lives have been turned upside down all because of an owner who couldn’t properly control or call back their dog.

"My mum has been left traumatised and so has her other chihuahua, who was there during the attack.

"They can no longer go a walk without feeling unsafe around other dogs.

"If you see an owner put their dog on a lead when they see your dog - or if their dog is already on a lead and you can see the owner actively avoiding the route you and your dog are taking - keep your dog on a lead and at a distance until you have passed.

"There are reasons why they do not want to be near your dog."