A TINY dog has been given a suspended death sentence after biting a woman near her Flintshire home.

Jack Russell Meg faces being put down if she puts a paw wrong after the incident on Christmas Day, a court was told yesterday.

Owner Gillian Lloyd admitted to Flintshire Magistrates’ Court at Mold that Meg was dangerously out of control on December 25.

Lloyd, 55 looks after five rescue dogs and 13 cats at her home in Myrtle Lane, Penymaes, Holywell.

Matthew Ellis, prosecuting, said that at about 11.45am on Christmas Day, Meg had escaped through the house’s cat flap.

Natalie Mier, 30, who was visiting family nearby over Christmas, was walking past the cottage at the same time.

Meg emerged and bit her on the right calf, which left her in pain and with four puncture wounds which needed hospital treatment, the court was told.

The victim limped back to the house where she was staying, an ambulance was called, and she was taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital at Bodelwyddan, where she received a tetanus injection.

Lloyd said she knew nothing about it until the police later approached her.

The prosecutor asked for a destruction order and magistrates had previously adjourned the case for Lloyd to be legally represented so that they could consider making an order for Meg to be put down.

But after listening to the case, the magistrates made an order that Meg would be destroyed unless kept under proper control.

They said the cat flap must never be accessible in future and that Meg must remain on a lead and be muzzled at all times in public.

Lloyd, who had a previous similar conviction from 2005, was ordered to pay £85 costs and £100 compensation.