A dog has been fighting for its life after a fox attack in what the owner has called an 'epidemic.'

Fabulous, a two-year-old Russian Toy Terrier, went into cardiac arrest yesterday after he was bitten and thrown in the air by a fox on March 9.

Samantha Shepherd, the owner of the dogs, said this was the second attack since January.

She also added that there could be up to twenty foxes nesting at the end of her garden in Sundridge Close, Dartford.

She said: “He nearly died. Fabulous was in and out my garden when my Greyhound Phantom went rushing outside because a fox had Fabulous in his mouth.

“It took 20 minutes for Phantom to rescue him. The fox threw him up in the air and knocked him unconscious.

“He nearly died. He has bruising and trapped air, all down to being grabbed by the fox.”

Phantom, who is 12, was also attacked by the foxes which Samantha said are nesting at the bottom of her garden.

“I haven’t got the money to sort it privately. It is an epidemic, the foxes defend their territory and their young and the dogs go crazy at the back fence.

“It is getting out of hand, I’m scared this is going to keep happening. The vixens have had cubs, there could be 20 foxes from now until September.”

Samantha said she has struggled to get help from authorities and fears more foxes will lead to more attacks on her six dogs.

Trevor Williams, speaking for Kent-based fox charity The Fox Project, said: “Local authorities have no responsibility for wild animals unless they are classed as ‘vermin’ or are proven to be dangerous in terms of aggression or disease - none of which applies to foxes.

“Foxes don’t generally tend to face dogs or cats - both too dangerous. However, the cubs are the clue. It’s all about defending their young, which any animal will do if they feel they are actually or potentially threatened.

“The simple answer is fox deterrence. It’s a humane method of encouraging the vixen to remove her cubs to another den, and it works well.

“Most importantly, it deters replacement foxes from taking over the vacant territory, which is inevitable with a couple of weeks when old fashioned and expensive methods such as destruction or relocation are used.”

Samantha said she thinks more should be done to help dog owners.

“The Vixens will only become more aggressive because of their cubs.”