Ms Aitcheson was returning to her Deering Street home with the Maltese-Shihtzu cross when it was attacked and mauled to death by a neighbouring dog.

Ms Aitcheson’s daughter Janet Millword said the attack has been horrific for her mother. 

“Little Prince was still on his lead and the next door neighbour’s dog came out and mum went to pat it and it just went for Prince,” she said. 

“It took 20 minutes to prise little Prince from the neighbour’s dog's jaws because he got lockjaw.

“The neighbours were beating it to try and get it to release Prince but nothing worked and one of the neighbour’s described Prince as ‘hanging out of the dog’s mouth like a rag doll.”

Fourteen-year-old Prince died at the scene as a result of extensive injuries. 

Ms Aitcheson adopted Prince ten years ago from the local RSPCA branch and the pair was a well-known sight around town.

“Mum lives up near the Lighthouse Oval and she used to walk him into town every day,” Ms Millword said. 

“A lot of people know her and used to talk about her and Prince. Mum lives on her own and the worst of this whole episode is that mum witnessed the whole thing.”

The neighbouring dog, which Ms Millword said the ranger described as a Mastiff Cross not registered or micro-chipped, is currently impounded. 

Ms Millword said her mother is yet to hear from the dog’s owners and is concerned for the safety of other dogs and residents. 

“There hasn’t even been a visit or an apology from the dogs owner,” she said.

“If the dog is released there’s a lot of kids around there and other people who walk their dogs so I’m very concerned.”

Prince is now buried in Ms Millword’s backyard and will be missed for a long time to come. 

“Mum said to my daughter last night on the phone, ‘I’m just sitting here with Prince’s lead in my hand and I don’t know what to do.”