THE owner of a dog that attacked a Valleys housing officer and left her needing 30 stitches to her face says she wants her dog back.

Nicola Hope of Capel Newydd Avenue, Blaenavon, had a court injunction taken out against her by Bron Afon Community Housing after her pet Staffordshire bull terrier Casey attacked the officer in June.

The victim, who does not wish to be named, said she was on a routine visit to the association-owned property when one-year-old Casey shot out the front door and bit her and ripped away part of her lip.

"I could feel my lip hanging off and there was a lot of blood. I think I was in shock," she explained.

The injunction forbids Miss Hope of keeping any dogs at her home for the next 12 months.

But because the incident happened on her front doorstep and not in a public place, Gwent Police say the dog could not be removed or the owner prosecuted under the Dangerous Dogs Act, 1991.

Therefore the dog, along with her mother Safie, six, has been re-homed with a friend of Miss Hope's in Brynmawr and another dog, Buster, 12, has been re-homed in Blaenavon.

Miss Hope said she was "heartbroken" to lose the dogs, fearing it would be destroyed and is hoping she and her daughter Kayleigh, 18, will have their pets back when the injunction runs out.

She said Casey was usually good with people.

The victim was treated at the Royal Gwent Hospital for her injuries and has been off work for five months while she recovered from her ordeal.

She added: "My fear is that the dog could do it again to somebody else.

"I love dogs and wouldn’t want one put down but there should be a programme to ensure it’s safe in the community."