A WOMAN whose dog was attacked by another in Swanage says she fears it could happen to a child or elderly person.

Carol Osborne’s Jack Russell, Suzie, was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier which ran out of a house while Suzie was being walked by Danielle White, 14, who takes Carol’s dogs out for her.

Carol, 62, said: “This Staffy came out of a house and took my dog and shook it from the shoulder and wouldn’t let go.

“She had nine deep puncture wounds on her, one fairly close to the main vein in her neck and one close to her heart,” she added.

Carol said 11-year-old Suzie also had damaged tendons, lost a lot of muscle and still could not walk properly.

She says the same dog has attacked several others, but Carol has been left frustrated, as laws regulating dangerous dogs only apply when a human is attacked.

She says legislation needs to be changed to protect animals.

Carol added: “Next time it might not be a dog, next time it might be a child’s leg. If it was an older person they might have caused a heart attack.

“I just want to know how many dogs are being attacked in Swanage.

“I just want something done about it,” she added.

Richard Conway, who supervises the dog warden team at Purbeck District Council, said there were many dog-on-dog attacks.

He said that action could only be taken under the Dangerous Dogs Act if a dog attacked a person.

When a dog attacks another dog, he said, informal action could be taken in the form of advice to owners and costs could be sought through the courts.

He said Carol Osborne reported the attack and he advised her of the legislation.