A DOG lover is warning fellow owners to take care when walking their pets in a popular part of Trowbridge, after one of her dogs was attacked and killed.

Laura Farion, who owns Little Paws Pet Services in Trowbridge, is heartbroken after one of her chihuahuas, Molly, escaped from her car as Mrs Farion was getting ready to take her five dogs home after a walk.

Molly was then attacked by what she was told was a Staffordshire terrier near Drynham Lane.

Mrs Farion now wants the other dog’s owner to come forward. She has also reported the attack to the local dog warden.

She said: “I am so upset that this has happened to one of my dogs. I know this is a usual place to walk dogs so I just don’t want this to happen to anyone else.

“It was such a tragic accident, but I just want the other owner to come forward as the dog either needs to be assessed or destroyed to protect others.”

Mrs Farion found out the terrier’s owner had taken Molly for treatment after getting a call from a vet in the town.

She added: “The vets told me they had her and I needed to go in.

“When I went in I was told she had died and the owner of the dog who attacked her brought her in, but she had gone to hospital as her hand was hurt.

“I wanted to speak to the owner so I went to the hospital and sat next to her in the waiting room, where we spoke and I told her I wasn’t angry as it wasn’t her fault.

“However she then left through another exit without leaving her details, as if she was hiding something.

“I think she should come forward and take responsibility for what her dog has done, just to protect other dogs in the area. This can’t happen again.

“She was a thin lady with thin dark hair and glasses and around 5 feet 4 inches tall.”

A police spokesman said: “It is not currently a criminal offence for a dog to attack another dog, unless that dog is a registered assistance dog.

“If your dog is injured by attack from another dog, once it is safe to do so you should exchange details with the owner of the other dog, make a note of it’s name, description and if possible obtain witness details.

“Obtain veterinary advice early on and seek repayment from the other party.”