Judge orders destruction of dangerous dog
THE Staffordshire Bull Terrier who savaged his owner's former partner must be put down, a judge has ruled.
The dog, Fudge, attacked Andrew Gardner during a row with mother-of-three Laura Wain on her doorstep in Stafford, leaving him with "horrific" injuries.
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A jury cleared Wain of deliberately setting Fudge on him, but convicted her of owning a dog dangerously out of control.
The charge obliges judges to order destruction, unless the animal is found not to be a danger to the public at large.
But Judge Paul Glenn told a weeping Wain: "This dog is quite clearly a threat to public safety."
The judge gave Wain a 12 month community order with 80 hours' unpaid work and banned her from keeping dogs for 10 years.
He told her: "You haven't got a clue how to control this dog. You didn't accept the dog was dangerous, you said you wanted it back. It's cost the taxpayer almost £2,000 to keep this dog since the offence."
Wain, aged 26, of Edison Road, Stafford, denied assaulting Mr Gardner, causing him actual bodily harm and owning a dog dangerously out of control.
Mr Gardner bought Fudge for her as a present, but he became jealous and used to kick and punch it, she said.
After they split in March last year, he came round to her house to give her some money for their children. They got into an argument and as she went to shut the door, it flew open and Fudge bolted out.
The dog chased Mr Gardner down an alley and attacked him. He suffered a number of serious bites to his arms and head and spent a night in hospital.
Three-year-old Fudge is now in police custody in kennels. The dog attacked Mr Gardner once previously, in January last year, when it bit him on the chest, but Wain told police she wanted the dog back when the case was over.
Chris Clark, defending, said: "The dog doesn't constitute a danger to the public. This dog has only bitten one person and that is Mr Gardner."
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by Deb, OZ
Wednesday, June 17 2009, 12:41AM
“I am not sure about Spiderman as I tend to live in the real world!! I would say one piece of evidence that the guy beat the dog was maybe the fact that he was the only person the dog bit, just a thought!
I do not know enough about this dog to comment on whether or not he should be destroyed, but I do know that I have a Staffy who is the most gentle, loving beautiful dog that I can never imagine him attacking anyone or anything. He has been bought up in loving environment with a family who worship him, maybe that's what Fudge was lacking!!!”
by Hayley, Stoke
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 7:26PM
“I think it is disgusting that this dog is to be destroyed, I have a Staffordshire bull terrier and she loves people and other dogs. (Does not mean I don't watch her all the time - You can never trust a dog 100% bit like humans) When we are out walking we have the problem with little dogs attacking her (Shitzu mainly) and this is my argument they just have a bad name. We were out one evening and my dog was playing with a Dalmation, a Doberman, a Staffie and a Rottie - If only I had a camera cause not one of them was nasty to one another & I could have sent it to the paper, make a change to see nice press about these dogs instead of bad for once.”
by kelly, stoke
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 5:37PM
“well i cant say im a dog and i cant say ive ever hurt someone but yes ive defended people but never hurt anyone if iwas scared id ring the police or not even open the door if i thought a row would ensue.im not nasty nor was what i said its the truth.Ive had experience of staffys confusing kids play fighting and being injured through an old family friend so i know what im talking about.Having worked in a kennels and cattery ive also expirience of dogs in different enviroments though staffies wernt the nastiest dogs it was always the collies and german shepards lovely at home evil in kennels.every dog is unpredictable just like the biggest animals to the smallest.like humans they have instincts making them unpredictable.”
by Jay, Stone
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 5:22PM
“Kelly, you haven't a clue, keep your malicious comments to yourself. Have you ever tried to defend someone? Should you be put down because of it?”
by Nicky, Stoke
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 5:21PM
“I agree with the comments. Dogs need a decent home and training on how to behave. It sounds to me like Fudge never got the life he deserved and now is going to be put down as punishment for it. He never even had a chance. It sickens me. I have a staffordshire bull, she's a great dog.
I think Rustinho has got a good point, I would gladly do whatever it entailed to have a dog licence, and hopefully it would weed out all those who want a dog for the wrong reasons.”