A DOG owner whose pet was attacked by three Rottweillers has warned other people to take extra care when walking their animals.

Anna Lewin's dog Snoopy, a Bichon Frise, is lucky to be alive after he was set upon by three untethered Rottweillers on Turbary Common.

Snoopy needed 10 stitches and suffered severe bruising around his heart following the attack.

He had to be kept in the vets for two days and at one point, teaching assistant Anna and her four children were warned he might not survive.

Anna, of Bennion Road, Ensbury Park, said she was shocked to be told by Bournemouth's dog warden and the police that it was unlikely that anything could be done.

She has since sold her car to pay for the vet bills and is keen to ensure no one else suffers the same distress.

"Snoopy was being walked by a dog sitter and it was just him and this Rottweiller owner in the park - there were no independent witnesses," she said.

"It's been really upsetting for us as a family and the vet bills are a real strain. I would just hate to see somebody else suffer like this."

A spokesperson for Bournemouth's public protection service said they were still looking into the complaint but admitted the lack of independent witnesses made it difficult.

"The best advice I can give people is to keep your dogs on leads as far as possible or make sure you can call them back," she said.

"If dogs are not on leads and they get into a fight, it is very difficult legally to prove who attacked who. It really is important that people keep their dogs under control."

First published: August 24, 2005