The police have withdrawn charges issued against a woman who last May saw her dog being mauled and killed by a pit bull in Sliema.

The Times yesterday reported that charges had been issued against Vanessa Grech for allegedly keeping a dog without a licence and for failing to keep the dog, which was of danger to others, under control.

A police spokesman confirmed that the charges were withdrawn and Police Commissioner John Rizzo had instructed officers to offer an apology on his behalf, even though he was not personally involved in the case.

The spokesman explained that as the law stood, each dog had to be licensed. "But it would have been trivial for the police to press charges against the woman, especially considering what she and her dog went through," the spokesman added.

Mrs Grech has been waging a campaign to have dangerous dogs muzzled in public after her Chihuahua was killed by a pit bull terrier.

Charges have been issued against a boy who was walking the pit bull when the incident occurred.

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