AN “irresponsible” 25-year-old woman has been rapped after her dog killed a pensioner's Dachshund.

Victoria Mayo, 25, knew her then partner's physically scarred Staffordshire bull terrier-type canine had been used as a fighting dog by previous owners when she was walking it in The Heights, Northolt, on October 13.

But she did not do enough to prevent it launching a lethal attack on the other pet, called Fudge, leaving the animal seriously injured and its 77-year-old owner needing hospital treatment for shock.

PC Simon Underwood, dogs officer at Harrow Police, said: “Sometimes I think it can be forgotten that dogs are as important to people as any other member of their family, and their loss brings the same amount of pain and grief.

“If you are in charge of a dog that you know will fight with other dogs, it should be on a lead and a muzzle at all times and you must be able to manage and control it.”

He added: “A dangerous animal has been taken off the streets of Harrow Borough and the person in charge of it banned from keeping animals, however it is sad that the dog ends up paying the price for the owner's actions or failures, even when it's the right thing to do.”

Police contacted a local vet who sent a fast response team to the scene but they were unable to save the pet.

Mayo, of Newmarket Avenue, Northolt, was hit with a five-year ban on owning pets and a three-year supervision order stopping her working with any animals at Harrow Magistrates Court, on Monday.

There was no indication that Mayo, or her partner, who acquired the dog, had used it for fighting.

PC Matt Hunt, of Roxeth Safer Neighbourhoods team, said: “This court result shows how seriously the Metropolitan Police Service treats the issue of dangerous dogs. We will continue to put negligent and irresponsible owners before the courts.”

Chief Inspector Jan Eachus, RSPCA dangerous dogs project officer, said: “This again shows the direct link between dangerous dogs and animal welfare, and shows a partnership approach to cases has its obvious advantages in securing convictions against those who act irresponsibly.”