The overwhelming majority of those who voted in an online poll by The Times think that dangerous dogs should be muzzled in public.

More than 96 per cent of respondents voted in favour of introducing some form of regulation forcing owners to muzzle dogs in public places, especially those which posed a potential danger. Not one of the comments posted was against muzzling.

The poll was launched on Wednesday after The Times carried the story of a pit bull terrier that killed a Chihuahua-cross in a restaurant in Sliema while on leash.

A respondent said if dogs were deemed dangerous enough to be muzzled, they should not be allowed on the streets in the first place. Quite a few said that all dogs, big and small, should be muzzled because even a small dog could inflict "terrible" wounds if it bit someone.

One respondent defined pit bulls as "a deadly weapon" attacking children and small dogs, adding that the public was not aware of all the incidents that happened because most cases were not reported.

A few respondents said dangerous dogs should not be muzzled but banned altogether. As they were used for fighting they could attack children for no reason and they were often kept by owners who wanted to show "what bullies they are".

"There are no dangerous dogs, but dangerous owners," one comment read.

A respondent suggested muzzles should be of a special type which tightened at the top but widened out at the bottom, enabling dogs to stick their tongues out to reduce body heat in summer.

Another said pit bulls, rottweilers, greyhounds and Alsatians should only be allowed outside both leashed and muzzled.

Owners should also be kept accountable for their dogs' actions. "It is a shame that these people are allowed to walk away scot-free especially if one considers that such viciousness is largely due to the dog's upbringing".

A comment from a cyclist and runner said it was often difficult to walk in the countryside without meeting dogs harassing passers-by and trying to get a bite off a cyclist's foot.