Did she break dog-walking rules?

DOG walkers operating in the Surrey district of Tandridge, where the woman died, must apply for a licence costing £15 .50 a year.

The only exception is where the business is already licensed under the Animal Welfare Act for boarding and day care.

There is no national limit on the number of dogs an individual can walk at one time. But Tandridge council has set the maximum at six – suggesting the tragic victim of Thursday’s mauling was not keeping to the rules if it was a commercial operation.

Walkers are also required to have thirdparty liability cover for a minimum of £5million if they are using an outdoor council facility and a licence is required if a professional walker is using council-owned land.

The council also requires dog walkers to prove they are ‘registered with a recognised body such as the National Association of Professional Dog Walkers’. Or they must hold a qualification covering canine behaviour, control and legislation.

The owner of a dog that kills someone can be jailed for up to 14 years. Maulings carry a maximum five-year term.