Dog registrar Steve Woolley said there were a number of incidents including a child bitten, other dogs attacked and a puppy killed by a larger dog during the festive season.

Mr Woolley said 44 dogs were impounded during December 2009, which saw 24 of them claimed and the remaining 20 destroyed.

This was only one down from the 45 impounded in 2008's festive season, with about the same claim and destroy ratio.

These figures saw the pound close to full and the RSPCA shelter overflowed with dogs.

The pound could only house 12 dogs at one time, only rarely doubling up dogs to one kennel if need be.

Mr Woolley said people going away should take cautious steps, whether they take their dog with them or have them boarded.

He said if owners didn't, they should make sure they are cared for under high supervision.

He also said pet owners who were having young family members come and stay needed to be careful as some dogs weren't used to others in their territory.

In the past week the council has also received complaints about two wandering dogs attacking people and other dogs at about the same time in the evening and at night.

Mr Woolley said one was described to be a maltese cross shihzu and the other a large brown dog, both wandering around Jenkins Avenue.

He said it wasn't believed they were strays, which meant the owners were letting them escape.

Mr Woolley said if people let their dogs continually escape and the dogs did attack, it could see the animal put down.

He said he urged people to keep their dogs confined, supervise dogs when having visitors and keeping good care while going away.

A few dog escapes were seen during fireworks but most were reunited with their owners.