A much-loved pet dog which bit a child has been spared death – after its owner spent £2,000 on an expert report to prove it is not dangerous.

Alison Noble, 50, also launched a petition to save her Italian Spinone dog Dudley, after she admitted in court to being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control.

The court heard earlier how, on November 12 last year, the three-year-old child was bitten while stroking the dog as she and her family visited the Happy Hooves Riding Centre near Penrith.

District Judge Gerald Chalk was told that a dog behaviour expert had concluded that Dudley was a happy and well-adjusted pet who does not pose a danger to the public.

In her battle to save Dudley, Noble, of Skirsgill Lane, Penrith, was supported by a 150-name petition. Judge Chalk ruled that her dog will be allowed to live – but only if it is routinely muzzled when it is in a public place.

An earlier hearing was told there was previously no problem with Dudley.

The dog had regularly spent a lot of time with vulnerable adults and children at Happy Hooves, which offers equine therapy to these groups. Noble said there had never been a problem and regular visitors at the centre liked having Dudley around.

On the day the child was bitten, she stroked Dudley along his back, initially with no problem. But the dog then jumped up at the youngster's chest and she fell back. That was when Dudley bit her in the face and head.

Since that day, Noble has spent more than £900 on a fence and gate at her riding centre to keep the dog away from the public.

Steven Marsh, for Noble, said: "Dudley has been assessed by a dog therapist. He says this dog is not aggressive in any way.

"Dudley is a socially happy dog and that his confirmed by all the members of the public who have signed the petition. All the evidence after that incident is that this dog is not a danger to public safety.”

After the case, Noble said her report was worth every penny.