Dog owners in Ardglass are afraid to take their dogs out for a walk following an attack on one pooch on a lead with its owner.
The local resident who did not want to be named said that she was walking her dog beside The Meadow area when a large dog suddenly appeared. It was on the loose, and it lunged at her dog grabbing it by the back. Another man turned up and pulled the dog off the small dog and the woman and the dog were both left very shaken.
The small dog suffered bites to its back but was not seriously hurt.
Since this incident another large and aggressive dog is also roaming the streets in Ardglass and residents are fearful that it may attack other dogs or even a small child.
Downpatrick area Councillor Dermot Curran said: “All dogs should be under control at all times, and large dogs may well need to be muzzled. It must have been very distressing for the lady concerned to have her dog attacked suddenly.
“But had that been a young child out playing there is no telling what the outcome could have been. We must therefore look after the public and such dogs need to be locked up or on a lead for the safety of the public.”