A WOMAN who intervened when she saw a bull terrier puppy being thrown by its owner feared she would be attacked after the man threatened her.

The woman, who does not want to be named, was walking her 10-year-old mongrel bitch in Riverside near Forge Mill Museum last Tuesday when a white bull terrier puppy approached her dog in a friendly manner.

The woman claims the puppy's owner began screaming and swearing at it to return but when it didn't obey, the man walked over, picked it up and threw it.

The puppy landed on its head, yelped and ran off.

The woman said: "I saw red and asked him what right he had to do that to an animal. I said it was no wonder it had run off after being treated that way."

The women claims the man then approached her, threatening to "smash both her and her dog's faces in if she said another word" and called her abusive names.

She told him she had called the police and they were on their way and the man left to hunt for his dog.

She later did call the police, who referred her to the RSPCA.

An RSPCA spokesman said: "It's so important members of the public report incidents such as this.

"They should never think that nothing can be done because if we have enough evidence, we can and will prosecute people who treat animals cruelly."

People who witness animal cruelty can call 08705 555999.