are we missing the point here?
Putting the old lady bit to one side, she might have crashed into the car with someone in it or worse still people on the footpath
having a dog uncontrolled in a car is irresponsible and life threating to driver and other road/path users.
Go the correct route and IMO report incident to Gardai to follow up.
This could so easily have been on the news with a couple of pedestrians killed by out of control car.
Old lady driver is irrelvant.
PS Be happy no-one was hurt....this time..., how would you feel if it happens again and there are injuries???