A HUDDERSFIELD woman has called for tougher action on dangerous dogs after she was savaged by a Staffordshire bull terrier.

Sharon Mallinson, 35, of Chesil Bank at Quarmby, was attacked on April 17 while she was walking her Jack Russell terrier on nearby Reinwood Road.

She decided to speak out after three-year-old Kailey Mai Asquith was mauled by a dog in Dalton last month.

Sharon said: "The dog that attacked me is still living across the road, still roaming free.

"Once a dog attacks someone like that it should be immediately put down automatically, because there is a high risk it will do it again."

The dog was roaming free when it struck.

Sharon, who was with her two-and- a-half year old daughter, Jessica, was attacked when she picked up her Jack Russell to protect it from an unprovoked assault by the bull terrier.

The dog then dragged her to the ground and mauled her.

She was rescued by a passing jogger who scared the attacking animal away.

Sharon was taken to hospital and had to be sedated and treated for shock and severe puncture wounds to her legs and arms.

She was in hospital for two days, but is still off work. She also has to attend weekly hospital appointments because of her injuries.

Her dog suffered a puncture wound to his stomach, but has recovered after a visit to the vet.

Jessica was uninjured.

Sharon told police about the attack and the incident has been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The dog's owner has been issued with a summons to attend court, where magistrates will decide what to do.

But Sharon said the system does not work quickly enough. She added: "If this dog had attacked a child or an elderly person, God knows what would have happened.

"I want to stop anything like this happening to anyone else."

The police's community safety inspector, Nick Harvey, said it was up to the courts to decide the fate of a dog and its owner.

He added: "It's not down to the police to seize the dog.

"It is down to the magistrates to decide what action to take, whether to order the dog to be kept under control or destroyed. They can also place restrictions on the owner in relation to keeping animals.

"However, if people see a dog and are concerned about its behaviour they can contact us, Kirklees Council dog wardens or the RSPCA."

You can contact the police on 0845 60606, Kirklees dog wardens on 01484 226883 or the RSPCA on 0870 5555 999.