UNITED KINGDOM -- A DOG needed six stitches after an out of control Staffordshire bull terrier ‘locked on’ to its neck, a court heart.
Alison McShane was due to stand trial at Furness Magistrates’ Court on Thursday accused of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and cause injury.
But the 38-year-old, of Union Street, Dalton, changed her plea to guilty.
Magistrates were told McShane’s Staffordshire bull terrier attacked Lyn Caine’s whippet, Jet, behind Dalton Leisure Centre on September 23 last year.
Prosecuting, Mr Ian Dacre, said: “My client received a number of puncture wounds to her hand while trying to separate the two dogs.”
He said that on the day of the attack, she saw a tan coloured bull terrier run toward her from the rear of the leisure centre and decided to pick Jet up.
The two dogs then faced up to each other and she let go of Jet, believing he would be quick enough to run away.
But the other dog got hold of Jet by the throat and appeared to ‘lock on’.
She then put her hands between the two dogs to prise the grip of the Staffie from her dog and suffered puncture wounds to her right hand. The court heard her dog was yelping in agony and her hands were covered in blood when McShane appeared and put her dog on a lead.
The victim then went to Furness General Hospital for treatment. Her dog was diagnosed with a severed neck tendon and needed six stitches in the throat.
The court was shown pictures which demonstrated the extent of Jet’s injuries.
In defence, Mr Andrew Gallagher, said McShane admitted that her dog, which belongs to her husband’s daughter, attacked the whippet.
The dog was off its lead, which she said was a common occurrence and she had not had any problems previously.
Mr Gallagher said: “The claimant accepts that the dogs were ‘squaring up to each other’. I take that to show there was some aggression between both dogs before fighting. My client took hold of her dog from the rear, in an attempt to separate the dogs.
“My client also received some injuries and it is possible that both her and the claimant’s injuries were caused by both dogs.”
McShane received a £160 fine and was ordered to pay £385.20 for vet bills, transport to the hospital, loss of earnings and prescription charges, plus £150 compensation to the claimant and £85 court costs, a total of £795.20.
A control order was also placed on the dog which means whenever in public it must be on a lead and be wearing a muzzle.
(North West Evening Mail - Feb 4, 2012)
