A second pet owner is demanding police action after her dog was attacked in a Dartmouth town centre street this week by another dog.

Author and yacht skipper Simon Gilmore has already called for a change in the law after his dachshund puppy was injured by a dog in an attack near the town's Co-op store a fortnight ago and police told him there was no action they could take.

Christine Smither claims Dougal, her pet bichon frise dog, was attacked only yards away from the previous incident in Fairfax Place – possibly by the same dog.

Mr Smither said the small terrier went for her pet's throat and then kept trying to attack him even when she was holding him in her arms. Mrs Smither said: 'My poor dog was terrified. The dog was running loose and it is a very aggressive dog.'

She said the same dog had attacked her pet on two previous occasions – both in Coronation Park – and when she complained to the police she was told the attack dog should be on a lead and muzzled.

She said she had contacted the police following the latest attack and that they were taking it 'very seriously'.

She added: 'I want to see this dog sorted out. If it attacks another dog again, it should be put down.'

Mr Gilmore, who lives in Crowthers Hill, Dartmouth, was furious after his pet was injured but was told the police's hands were tied because the law only relates to dogs being a danger to humans and not to other dogs.

Mrs Smither and her husband John, who live in Church Road, Dartmouth, were out with Dougal on Wednesday morning this week when she said he was suddenly attacked at around 10am.

She said: 'All of a sudden this dog came from nowhere and attacked my dog. It grabbed my dog by the neck. I picked him up but this dog kept jumping up and trying to get to him.'

She said her pet was not injured but had been left 'terrified' by the attack.

She also said it had not been on any lead at the time of the attack, although a woman had put it on a lead immediately afterwards.