Anthony Ford was left with a shattered eye socket and sight in only one eye after he was chased into a Harehills store by three "hoodies" who then fled with his pet Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed.

The 24-year-old was walking Lexi up Harehills Road, Harehills, when the gang of black youths ordered him to hand over the dog.

Anthony claims two of the gang had approached him a fortnight earlier, asking for the dog while threatening him with a knife.

As the trio got closer, Anthony fled and ran into BK Store, on Harehills Road. But he was followed by the group who smashed a wine bottle into his face before fleeing with Lexi.

Lexi, who is 11 months old, belongs to his mum Christine Ford, 48, of Otley.

She told the YEP: "They wanted her because they thought she was a pit bull but she's not, she's a Staffy cross. They use them for fighting. These boys are still out there and we are scared. They might have blinded my son just to take the dog."

Anthony was taken to hospital by ambulance after the attack at 6pm on July 27. He was kept in overnight but it is unsure whether he will ever be able to see again through the damaged eye.

Because of this, the attack may have ruined Anthony's chances of becoming an electrician as he was about to take his third year of training at Leeds College of Technology.

"All he keeps saying is that he wishes he could have protected her (Lexi]. He did his best by running into a shop – you don't expect then to be hit by a bottle. They obviously aren't bothered about using violence which is worrying."

Pit bulls have been banned in the UK since 1991 and dog fighting has been illegal since the 19th century.

Now the family are putting up appeal posters of Lexi in the hope of getting her back. Anyone who has seen Lexi is asked to call Christine on 07795 347238

* West Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack to call DS Craig Jennings at Killingbeck police station on 0845 6060606.