ON FRIDAY, February 28, at approximately 11am, I was walking on Penarth Cliff Top with my five year old granddaughter and my border collie, Flye.

Two ladies walked passed us with a large, black and tan dog. Flye was lying down waiting for me when without provocation the other dog turned and violently attacked my gentle, inoffensive 13 year old dog. It spun her over onto her back, straddled her and seized her by the throat. I tried to drag the dog off but couldn't get my fingers under its collar. Flye was yelping and my granddaughter was terrified.

The owner got her dog off mine, apologised and asked me to check Flye, which I was desperately trying to do. She was so shaken that it was difficult to do this thoroughly. She seemed to be unscathed, but going back to my car I noticed she was holding her head tilted to one side. She had been bitten through her ear. Only minutes before, my granddaughter had been sitting beside Flye. I dread to think what might have happened had she been in that position when the dog attacked. Please, please dog owners, assess your dog with other dogs before you walk them off a lead.

Sue Lewis

Ashgrove

Dinas Powys