back to health after the German Shepherd fought off a vicious Pitbull Terrier.

Frightened Kerrie was knocked to the ground by the rampaging Pitbull before it sank its teeth into Clyde, who sprang to her defence.

Now the Pitbull's owner has had his dog destroyed.

Thirteen-year-old Clyde came to Kerrie's rescue almost a week ago during the attack at Dockyard Marina.

Kerrie's mother Gwen said her daughter suffered nothing more than a sprained ankle.

But it could have been far worse if Clyde had not taken the full brunt of the savage attack on Sunday evening.

Mrs. Underwood said her six-year-old daughter Brooke might have been killed by the Pitbull's force -- if she, and not her older sister, had been with the dog.

Kerrie, who loves animals so much she donates $1 a week to the SPCA, was taking Clyde for a short walk as her parents packed away their gear from a boat trip.

Moments later, her shrill screams alerted a crowd of onlookers to the Pitbull's attack.

"I ran in terror because that's what was in Kerrie's voice,'' said Mrs.

Underwood, of Sunshine Lane, Somerset.

"I couldn't run fast enough. When I got there, this Pitbull had my dog by the front of the throat and I thought Clyde was dead because he wasn't moving.

"The Pitbull had run over to Kerrie and knocked her down, so she let go of the leash and then the dog started attacking Clyde.

"Kerrie was OK but hysterical and I screamed for help. I yelled: `He's got my dog', and people thought I said `daughter'.

"My husband Keith who's had a hip replacement and doesn't walk well, came running over from the car. People came from everywhere, it was wonderful.'' Two off-duty Police officers, Michael DeSilva and his wife Susann, also helped try to separate the two dogs.

The Pitbull's owner also ran over from his boat. And Mrs. Underwood called Police and Paget vet Dr. Paul Hensen.

"At first, we were going to wait a day and take Clyde to see him the next morning,'' said Mrs. Underwood.

"But Dr. Hensen said it couldn't wait. He was very concerned about the redness in Clyde's eye and he wanted to give him some anti-inflammatories straight away.

"In the end, Clyde had a lucky escape. Kerrie had a very lucky escape. But if it had been Brooke who was walking the dog, I don't think she would have been here today.

"That's what was so frightening about the whole thing.'' She said Clyde had always been treated as part of the family -- ever since he was adopted as an abused pet 12 years ago.

But the family now has a real fear of Pitbulls, according to a letter to the editor written by Mrs. Underwood.

"I'm sure that not all Pitbulls are vicious,'' she wrote. "But I will never risk being told this.

"I now know how fast these animals can rip into another dog, or God forbid, a child. It was absolutely terrifying and we are working to help our child put it behind her.'' Assistant Dog Warden Jeffrey Benevides confirmed the Pitbull had now been put down by its owner.