A WOMAN believes the same dog which mauled a Shi Tzu is responsible for at least two other attacks and fears a young child will be savaged.

Rachel Adams contacted us after reading about an attack on a Shi Tzu, near Horspath, by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Ms Adams believes the same dog attempted to maul her 14-week-old Great Dane puppy two weeks ago while she was walking it and her other dog - a labrador.

The 42-year-old from Horspath said it was only because her puppy, Missy, was small enough to crawl into brambles and then down a hole that it was able to escape being savaged.

Ms Adams said: "It was frightening. I have been walking dogs for 18 years and I have never seen anything like it.

"This dog, which was not on a lead, just came from nowhere and it was just fortunate that I had a retractable lead and so was able to let Missy escape down a hole otherwise I'm sure she would have been savaged.

"Eventually the owner came over to pull the dog away - he was a big bloke, but it took all his might to get hold of his dog's collar. If the dog had managed to reach Missy it would have ripped her to shreds.

15-year-old Shi Tzu cross Tommy had to have more than £700 of vet's treatment after another dog bit him on land near Horspath village sports field.

Ms Adams said she was certain it was the same animal which attacked Missy.

She added: "I'm positive it was the same dog and owner as that described in the other attack.

"It was all over in the space of under a minute and I hoped it was a one off, but when I read about it in the paper I thought that's the same dog. There is no doubt in my mind that this dog would attack a child. It is the most dangerous one I have ever seen."

Edward Pope, of Corunna Crescent, Cowley, also came forward to say a neighbour's dog had been attacked near to the same spot several weeks ago and it later required a skin graft.

The RSPCA advises dog owners to keep their pets under control in public, either on a lead or in another way.

The organisation says if dogs have been found to attack other dogs it will prosecute and advises people to report incidents.

If you or your dog have been attacked by a dog, or you have seen an attack, call the RSPCA hotline on 0870 555 5999.