Colin Charles, of Trafalgar Square, was walking his much-loved dog – two-year-old Yorkshire Terrier Captain Jack – when they were attacked.
Carol Ramsden, a 52-year-old from Trafalgar Square, admitted being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog and had been looking after the animal as a favor while its owner was in hospital.
Catherine Turnbull, prosecuting, said that Mr Charles heard footsteps and noticed the black and white dog, called Jasper, was pulling at its lead.
She added that he grabbed Jack by the throat and held him to the ground. “He was yelping. The female was lying on the ground – she had no control. It was a very muscular dog. He was in fear for his own dog.”
Ms Turnbull added that Mr Charles tried to pull the attacking dog away, punched it and eventually jammed his fist into the animal’s mouth.
Mr Charles suffered facial injuries when he fell to the ground and bite wounds to his hand. Ms Turbull said: “He punched it to the nose which caused swelling to the knuckles.”
She added that Captain Jack suffered wounds to the throat, as well as pain and discomfort, and had to be treated by a vet.
Robert Vining, in mitigation, said that Ramsden had been looking after the dog and the owner had died the day before the incident. He added: “There was never any trouble from the dog as far as she was aware – that day the dog behaved totally out-of-character.”
Mr Vining said that Ramsden was of previous good character. He said: “Her bank account of life at this moment in time is considerably in credit.”
The court heard that the dog’s new owners, Jamie Francis and Sarah Young, were experienced dog owners.
So after standing there while the pit bull attacked this man and his dog, Carol Ramsden ran off with the pit bull and hid it -- then gave it away to another couple. Did she bother to tell them that she had been hiding the dog from police?
Ramsden was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £239.09 in compensation. Magistrates also imposed a Contingent Destruction Order – the dog should be kept under control and muzzled when in public places.
(Scarborough News - August 11, 2012)
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