The Andrews family's pedigree West Highland terrier Daisy was set upon when two dogs broke through their 6ft garden fence.

Owner Chris, 31, rushed the pet to an animal hospital in Middlesbrough but Daisy died from her injuries.

The dad of three young children is furious after police told him they could not take any action because the attack happened on private property.

Daisy was attacked on Sunday morning less than an hour after Chris, married to Donna, 26, let the pet out in the garden.

It is not known what breed the attacking dogs were.

Chris, a fireman, said: "The police are saying they can't do anything because it was a dog on dog atack and it was on private not public land.

"The kids could have been in the garden and they wouldn't have been able to get away because we have a 6ft high fence.

"Does somebody have to really get hurt before the police can do anything?" The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 states it is a criminal offence if any breed of dog is dangerously out of control in public and it injures a person.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "We are investigating this report."

The family, including daughters seven-year-old Faith, Polly, five, and Honey, three, have been left devasted by Daisy's death.

A main artery in one of her back legs was punctured during the attack and she lost too much blood.

Chris, of Joyce Road, Hartlepool, is also angry after he was forced to take the injured animal to Middlesbrough landing himself with a £300 vets bill after being unable to find an emergency vet in Hartlepool.

He said: "It would have taken five minutes to go from my house to the vets, but it took me 45 minutes to get to Middlesbrough."