TWO dog-on-dog attacks 10 days apart in Wellington have sparked calls for bye-laws to make owners keep their pets on a lead.

One attack on Thursday, April 23, was said to be by a young man’s off-leash Rottweiler in the lane beside St John’s Parish Church leading to Church Fields which caused critical injuries to the other dog.

The second happened in Wellington Playing Field at about 10 am on Sunday, April 12, when Dawn Bunting was walking her two dogs, a British bulldog named Tilly which is nearly five years old, and a two-year-old Macedonian rescue Nika.

Ms Bunting, of Old Court Mews, said another woman’s off-lead dog savaged Tilly, leaving her with teeth marks around her neck which needed £115 of veterinary surgery.

Police are now investigating the attack in the playing field, where the town council has signs clearly stating dogs must be kept leashed while being walked.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “Nobody was injured, but a dog suffered a small puncture wound.

“Both parties have been spoken to, and relevant advice has been given.”

Ms Bunting said: “I was so annoyed with the irresponsibility of the other owner who said she would not put her dog back on a lead because it was not ‘vicious’.

“She did not even pull her dog off at all.

“She offered to pay the vet’s bill at the time but since then she has refused to pay it.”

Ms Bunting said the incident highlighted the need for regulations to encourage dog owners to be more responsible.

The town council is currently working with Somerset Council, which wants to bring in a public spaces protection order (PSPO) to cover all parks and playing fields in the county to allow on-the-spot fines to be issued if dog laws are breached.