IT wasn’t a child... but it might have been. There is something terribly sad about a tiny toy poodle pup being mauled to death by larger dog that was out of control.

But that is also a story that is becoming all too familiar.

Yes the killer dog has been put down. And, yes, on this occasion the attack happened on public property where the law does permit an owner to be prosecuted should that be necessary.

But irresponsible ownership does no favours for dogs and cannot be permitted to continue. What can be done?

The RSPCA, fed up with picking up the pieces, has called for reintroducing dog registration and microchipping that ties owners to dogs.

The Association of Chief Police Officers, too, has called for a tougher law so that attacks on private property can also lead to prosecution.

Every year, 6,000 postal workers alone are injured in dog attack.

It’s time the government introduced legislation with more bite.