A suspect is paralysed for a matter of seconds

Officers used the M26 Taser gun on a dog after receiving calls from concerned residents living in Tanyfron near Wrexham on Saturday.

The animal was subdued by the gun but managed to run off when it broke the weapons electric circuit.

The dog was later destroyed by a vet. Nobody has come forward to claim the animal.

North Wales Police Sergeant Andy Jones said the gun did not work effectively.

We were considering shooting the animal but it wasn't an option because of where it was Superintendent Nick Snape

"Unfortunately it didn't work," he said.

"I don't know if dogs are immune but the animal just bolted."

However, Superintendent Nick Snape said the gun successfully stopped an officer from being attacked.

"It was about to attack an officer and they tasered it, the impact on the dog was effective," he said.

"We were considering shooting the animal but it wasn't an option because of where it was.

"It was unfortunate that it was used on a dog but in reality we had a situation where a dog had already attacked two people."

'Intolerable pain'

Officers decided to use the gun after growing concern that the animal could harm a member of the public.

The dog had allegedly already bitten two people and had been seen chasing motorbikes when officers were called out.

A police spokesman said the two victims, both adults, suffered abdominal injuries.

One was superficial but the other had a nasty puncture wound.

North Wales Police began trialling the Taser gun, which is intended to provide a non-lethal alternative to firearms, in April.

Tested

The gun fires two darts connected to electric cable into the target before a 50,000 volt charge knocks the suspect out.

The north Wales force joins the Metropolitan Police and forces in Thames Valley, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire in testing the weapon.

Amnesty International has criticised the introduction of stun guns saying that Tasers inflict "intolerable pain" and are easily abused.

Manufacturers, Arizona-based Taser International, have warned they can cause eye injuries when fired towards the face.

Amnesty says the full effects have never been independently tested.