POLICE are dealing with a large number of complaints relating to dog incidents recently.

They are reminding owners that dogs should be kept on a lead. Although the law allows people to let their dog run free 'under close control', police said it means the dog must come back every time it is called and few dogs are highly trained enough to do this when they get involved with other dogs.

The result is a spate of incidents involving dogs attacking other dogs with the owners occasionally getting caught up, usually while trying to separate the dogs. Invariably, people involved say it is 'out of character' for the dogs, but police said that is not much consolation to someone who has been bitten or whose dog has been savaged.