Post by CampWhippet on May 1, 2006 12:36:45 GMT -5
Court orders dog to be destroyed
By Newsdesk
A GREYHOUND, which attacked two other dogs in Skipton, killing one of them, will be put to death.
Seventy-four-year-old Dorothy Marguerite Bird appeared at the court for the second time in five months on Wednesday to account for the actions of her greyhound, Jason.
She pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a dog order given to her by the courts in December after her dog grabbed a chihuahua out of its owner's arms and mauled it to death.
The pensioner had been told she had to ensure the hound was kept on a lead and muzzled in public places.
But on Monday February 20 Jason managed to get out of Bird's home on Pinhaw Road and attack another animal.
Prosecutor Sarah Tyrer said 15-year-old Samantha Gibson had been walking her Jack Russell, Lucky, along Roughaw Road by its lead when the greyhound pounced on the smaller animal.
The pet was covered in blood and its owner was hysterical.
The Jack Russell was treated at the vets for a neck wound and went on to make a recovery, although is now frightened of other dogs.
Mrs Tyrer said the magistrates should seriously consider a destruction order on Jason, which Bird had since given back to the Greyhound Trust at Sowerby Bridge.
Defending Bird, Paul Fitzpatrick said she was not an irresponsible dog owner and on the day of the most recent attack Jason had escaped from her home un-muzzled via an open door.
He said it was in Jason's innate nature as a greyhound to pursue smaller animals.
Mr Fitzpatrick said his client admitted Jason had been dangerously out of order.
"She knows it must have been a horrifying experience for the young girl," he said.
He added the pensioner was a dog lover and had not wanted to see pictures of the Jack Russell's injuries.
After listening to the evidence magistrates decided Jason should be put down.
Chairman of the bench Peter Munro told Bird: "This is a very sad incident. It gives us no pleasure whatsoever in making an order for the destruction of Jason.
"It's not the first time it has attacked another dog and there was an order in place. It's with great reluctance we are making this order."
Bird was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £180.97 compensation to Lucky's owner and £55 court costs.
9:23am Thursday 27th April 2006
www.thisisbradford.co.uk/display.var.742949.0.court_orders_dog_to_be_destroyed.php
By Newsdesk
A GREYHOUND, which attacked two other dogs in Skipton, killing one of them, will be put to death.
Seventy-four-year-old Dorothy Marguerite Bird appeared at the court for the second time in five months on Wednesday to account for the actions of her greyhound, Jason.
She pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a dog order given to her by the courts in December after her dog grabbed a chihuahua out of its owner's arms and mauled it to death.
The pensioner had been told she had to ensure the hound was kept on a lead and muzzled in public places.
But on Monday February 20 Jason managed to get out of Bird's home on Pinhaw Road and attack another animal.
Prosecutor Sarah Tyrer said 15-year-old Samantha Gibson had been walking her Jack Russell, Lucky, along Roughaw Road by its lead when the greyhound pounced on the smaller animal.
The pet was covered in blood and its owner was hysterical.
The Jack Russell was treated at the vets for a neck wound and went on to make a recovery, although is now frightened of other dogs.
Mrs Tyrer said the magistrates should seriously consider a destruction order on Jason, which Bird had since given back to the Greyhound Trust at Sowerby Bridge.
Defending Bird, Paul Fitzpatrick said she was not an irresponsible dog owner and on the day of the most recent attack Jason had escaped from her home un-muzzled via an open door.
He said it was in Jason's innate nature as a greyhound to pursue smaller animals.
Mr Fitzpatrick said his client admitted Jason had been dangerously out of order.
"She knows it must have been a horrifying experience for the young girl," he said.
He added the pensioner was a dog lover and had not wanted to see pictures of the Jack Russell's injuries.
After listening to the evidence magistrates decided Jason should be put down.
Chairman of the bench Peter Munro told Bird: "This is a very sad incident. It gives us no pleasure whatsoever in making an order for the destruction of Jason.
"It's not the first time it has attacked another dog and there was an order in place. It's with great reluctance we are making this order."
Bird was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £180.97 compensation to Lucky's owner and £55 court costs.
9:23am Thursday 27th April 2006
www.thisisbradford.co.uk/display.var.742949.0.court_orders_dog_to_be_destroyed.php
