Barbara Armstrong, of Poolstock Lane, was walking her 23-week-old Border Terrier, Tia on Tuesday, December 13, when it was set upon by four other dogs.
Mrs Armstrong is now warning others to keep an eye out in the Poolstock area following the attack.
She said: “I was walking along the canal, and there was a man with four bull-terrier type dogs. Before I knew what had happened, Tia was surrounded by them and she is covered in cuts and bruises. The vet said she is lucky to be alive.
“Since the attack, I have heard from other people in the area who said that his man and his dogs have done the same thing before. He didn’t even try to stop them and just walked off.
“The police or the council wardens have done nothing and I worry for others in the area. This man needs to be found and his dogs stopped from attacking more dogs.”
GMP confirmed they have been made aware of the incident, but say they are restricted under the Dangerous Dogs Act as to the powers they have to follow up such incidents.
The attack comes as law makers review sentencing guidelines for people convicted of dangerous dogs offences in England and Wales.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is one of the most controversial laws on the statute book.
Critics accused the then government of rushing it into law under media pressure, and that it has failed to achieve its aims.
A government consultation in 2010 revealed the public to be still sharply divided on the law.
But the Sentencing Council said its proposals would help magistrates who have to deal with the vast majority of cases brought before the courts.
The Blue Cross charity says the law is not working, and it is time to shift the emphasis away from certain types of dog and place responsibility on owners.
(Wigan Today - Dec 17, 2011)