A 10-MONTH-OLD puppy was left with one eye after being kicked by a horse while being cared for by a 'dog hotel'.


Mark Dinnadge rescued the rottweiler, named Jess, from Last Chance dog rescue centre six weeks ago, but had already booked a five-night holiday in Brighton starting on July 16.
 

The 48-year-old said: "I was on the verge of cancelling the holiday but was told about Pet Mates, which offers home boarding for dogs.
 

"I didn't want to put her in kennels, and this place was different because there is acres of land for them to run around."
 

Pet Mates owner, Sharon Chapman, picked up the dog on the day of the holiday and took her to Foots Cray meadows.
 

Mr Dinnadge, of Jason Walk, Eltham, told News Shopper: "My last words were 'please look after my dog' and she said 'don't worry I have been doing this for 12 years'.


"I told her Jess was a rescue dog and didn't come back off the lead."


When the father-of-two arrived in Brighton with his wife, he received a text message saying Jess had been in an accident.
 

He immediately got on a train home but while travelling back was informed the dog needed one of her eyes removed.


Mr Dinnadge, who has suffered from a form of blood cancer for three years, said: "The vet told me she was on a bridle path and the dog was off the lead.
"A horse came past and the dog chased it and the horse kicked out."


He added: "We are all devastated, the vet had to console me when I first saw her.
 

"If she was on a lead it would never of happened. It could so easily have been avoided."


Mr Dinnadge says he has not received an apology from Ms Chapman.


He said: "I just don't want it to happen to anyone else."


Ms Chapman said: “He knew the dog was off the lead. It was a very unfortunate accident, I was devastated by it.

“I have been doing this for 12 years, it really was the most unfortunate accident.”