A Mottingham man has warned dog owners of the dangers of foxes after his beloved pet Chihuahua was mauled and left for dead.

Harvey Cooper, 25, was devastated when he discovered his 2-year-old dog Storm “face down” behind the shed.

Mr Cooper and his friend Dan Ring, 32, have since discovered a fox den in a neighbouring garden and believe Storm was a victim of a fox attack.

Mr Cooper told News Shopper: “After talking to the next door neighbours we found out that around 8.30am she heard foxes making a screaming and hounding noise coming from our garden.

“I was very shocked as I have heard things happening to people and animals however I never thought it actually happened in real life.”

News Shopper:

Harvey Cooper and Storm. Photo: Harvey Cooper/Dragon Studios Photography Limited.

Mr Ring, who lives in Cattistock Road which is where Storm was found, said: “He [Harvey] wants to warn people that it can happen.

“It’s quite annoying how we have been treated with it, people that are fox lovers say it wouldn’t happen but there is no other way it could have happened.”

He added that the area has a particularly bad problem with foxes.

He said: “This area is rife with it, we didn’t know there was den behind mine.”

Mr Ring told News Shopper about the close bond between Storm and Mr Cooper.

He said: “We used to call him his shadow, he was a happy little chappy, he had a big character. He was just pretty much stuck next to Harvey.

“You would never have to put a lead on him and he would walk beside Harvey and not run away.

“Harvey would put his food down and rather than eat it Storm would hang onto his leg.”

He added: “It’s like they were partners in crime.”

News Shopper:

Storm enjoying an icecream. Photo: Harvey Cooper.

Mr Cooper, a professional photographer, said: “I never treated him as a dog really, I never considered him as a dog but more of my baby, only animal lovers would understand the feeling inside when you look your pet in the eyes and he smiles back with a glowing face.”

Following the grim discovery the friends went to Toby Carvery to try and distract themselves.

Mr Cooper told News Shopper: “The first thing I thought about doing was to save Storm some turkey from my dinner plate because that is what I have always done, after weeping I had to try and eat my dinner like nothing has happened.”

Storm will be cremated and Mr Cooper plans to scatter his ashes in Eastbourne.