A guide dog that was attacked in Penryn last month has had to be rehomed and may never work again.

Fergus, a loyal companion and guide to visually impaired town resident Kay Kitto for the past ten months, was attacked and injured by a “pit bull” type dog running loose in Little Oaks on Saturday, May 18.

Read the original story of the attack on Fergus here.

A spokesman for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association said Fergus had been “so badly affected by the attack that he may not be able to continue working as a guide dog.”

“He is currently being cared for by Guide Dog volunteers until a decision is made about his future,” he added.

Kay said she was “absolutely heartbroken” by the news.

“He is such a loving, gentle, loyal dog who has changed the lives of everyone in this house,” she said.

“Fergus gave me my independence and the freedom to go out of the house whenever I wanted to and my confidence was returning.

“Not only do I lose Fergus but I lose my freedom and independence and my confidence that I had has gone altogether.”

It could take years until another suitable guide dog is trained and available for Kay.

“I feel like I want to explode. I am so upset and angry and all this is because of one woman who could not control her damn dog,” she said.

On Monday, June 10, parliament will be discussing the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Bill, which would increase the police’s powers to take action when guide dogs are attacked.

Under the proposals, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 will be amended so that an attack on a guide dog is treated the same as an attack on a person.

Any offending dog could then be ordered to be destroyed.