Dog which bit woman spared death penalty

UNITED KINGDOM -- A dog which attacked a pensioner’s Jack Russell - breaking the woman’s wrist in the process -will not be destroyed, a court has heard.

Coco, a rescued malamute, attacked 69-year-old Janet Circit and her dog in Thornham Way play park in Eastrea on June 29.

Coco’s owner, Herbert Hatton (61) of Wype Road, Whittlesey, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control at a hearing at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court in August.

Herbert Hatton

Hatton returned to the court on Monday to hear the fate of Coco, which the prosecution had applied to have put down.

But Joanna Hardy, defending, said the attack had only happened as a result of a fault with Coco’s lead.

She said: “This was a dog issue, not an owner issue. The defendant has taken steps to solve the problems. Coco is now never taken out without a full cage muzzle and a shorter lead.

“The problem on the day was he was using an extendable lead, and there was a malfunction in the mechanism. He now uses a non-extendable lead.”

The court heard Mrs Circit was walking the Jack Russell in the park, but did not have it on a lead.

When Coco saw the dog, he chased it, and Mrs Circit picked her pet up - but Coco jumped up at her, despite Hatton’s calls.

Hatton was told to pay £1,000 compensation to Mrs Circit, and a £65 surcharge. He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Magistrate Martyn Sharp said: “This was a very serious incident. What happened on that day could have been a lot worse. You should this seriously about where you stand in terms of dog ownership.”

The prosecution had also asked for a disqualification on Hatton keeping dogs, but magistrates rejected the application.

Hatton was told he must keep the dog muzzled and on a two metre lead in public places, and not take Coco into a children’s play area, otherwise the pet could be destroyed.

(Peterborough Today - Sept 20, 2013)