was savaged by a Rottweiler.

And Mr. Bob Nielsen also bears the scars of his desperate fight to save his dog's life.

He fears that a similar attack could cause serious injury or even kill a child or another dog.

Mr. Nielson, 42, of Cavendish Apartments, Pembroke, was walking his dog, Hooligan, and his sister's dog along First Avenue, after a visit to the Arboretum, when the attack happened.

Hooligan is a year old cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Poodle, named because of his sense of mischief.

Mr. Nielsen said: "This Rottweiler came out of nowhere. It was a gigantic dog. It only seemed interested in my dog. I was literally swinging my dog in the air to keep it away.

"A little boy, about 12-years-old came running over. It was his father's dog but he had zero control over it. He could not stop it. It eventually got its teeth on my dog.'' Mr. Nielsen is a former boxer and keeps himself fit but there was nothing he could do to free Hooligan from the Rottweiler's grip. He said he banged its head against a wall and tried to strangle it but it would not let go.

He said: "I was screaming for help and my dog was crying in pain. He thought he was going to die. I did not even realise that I had been hurt.

"I asked a woman to call the Police but the dog then let go. I was very grateful to the woman and another lady who came out and helped me.'' The Police arrived and Mr. Nielsen said he was a little shocked at the attitude of the officer who questioned him about the incident, because he suggested that he would not be able to take any action.

Mr. Nielsen said: "I do not want to criticise the Police because it is the law that is at fault. I will take the owner to court because this sort of thing seems to happen a lot.

"If it had been my wife taking the dog for a walk she could have been seriously hurt and my dog would have been killed. I am also worried about these dogs attacking children.'' Hooligan was recovering at home today with a couple of wounds and Mr. Nielsen has a couple of nasty scratches and what appears to be a bite on his stomach.

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE -- Mr. Bob Nielsen shows the scar on his dog Hooligan caused by a Rottweiler. Mr. Nielsen was also hurt during the attack.