Sharon Lindsay, the owner of the Japanese Akita, even tried to blame one its victims for her injuries - claiming she had "goaded the dog with food".
She had ignored police and council advice on how to control the animal and refused to hand it over to authorities trying to protect the public after the third attack.
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| Sharon Lindsay, owner of the Akita |
Lindsay's dog, named Bo, of a breed not banned in the UK, but blamed for numerous attacks elsewhere - bit all three of its victims at her home in Dundee.
He first targeted Lindsay's friend, Michelle Rossi, biting her on her wrist in October last year as she tried to save her handbag from being ripped to shreds.
Then in February this year the Akita lunged at a seven-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, biting him on the face and leaving him with an inch long wound that will leave a permanent scar.
On March 17 it launched its most serious attack - biting Pauline Getty on the face as she sat on the floor of Lindsay's house attempting to talk to the dog.
Bo launched itself at Ms Getty, savaging her face and leaving her needing 22 stitches on the face, numerous internal stitches and visits to a plastic surgeon. She has been left with permanent scars.
A sheriff said on Thursday that if the "injuries were caused by a human they would be looking at three or four years in jail".
Fiscal depute Lisa Welsh told Dundee Sheriff Court: "In the first incident the victim was left bleeding and was taken to A+E where her punctured wrist was dealt with. She did not report the incident as the dog was young and she thought it was an isolated incident.
"On February 6 a police officer warned the accused regarding a report of a seven-year-old boy having been bitten by Bo at her address. An animal control officer later attended and gave her advice. The officer, who has 17 years experience working with dangerous and aggressive dogs, immediately felt uneasy in its presence due to its dominant behaviour.
On March 17, Ms Getty was eating dinner at the address and provided the dog with items of food.
Ms Welsh added: "Having finished eating she sat on the floor next to the fire and turned to face Bo to speak to him. Without any warning the dog bit her on the face below her mouth, then further bit her left cheek.
"A large amount of blood was coming from her to the extent that some spilled on another witness at the address.
"The animal control officer and a police officer attended to see if she would sign the dog over to them for destruction. The dog appeared to be very loyal to the accused and there was a fear of the dog attacking the witnesses if force was used to separate them.
"A warrant was later granted and the dog was traced at a vets office where it was being neutered. The dog showed a great deal of aggression on being removed from the vets and had to be restrained using two dog poles.
"When interviewed by police she said: 'The dog was not out of control, she kept goading the dog with food even when I asked her not to.'"
Lindsay, 40, of Larch Street, Dundee, pleaded guilty on indictment to three charges under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
George Donnelly, defending, said: "The dog has been neutered and may be of a different temperament now."
Sheriff Richard Davidson deferred sentence until next month for social work background reports. He said: "If the scars one of these victims suffered had been caused by a human being they would be looking at three to four years in prison.
"It is plain that you had the benefit of advice from police and animal control that you chose to ignore. The charges are serious and your attempts to put off responsibility to the person who was injured does you no credit whatsoever."
(STV - Nov 20, 2013)
They want to let that dog live? Pull all its teeth.
ReplyDeleteThat should be SOP in any case someone wants to "save the life" of a dog that mauls.