Pet's owner backs muzzle order after Newchapel attack
THE owner of a dog attacked by an out-of-control rottweiler has supported a court move to muzzle the animal.
Rottweiler Storm must now be kept on a leash and muzzled in public places after violently shaking lhasa apso Sam.
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Hollie Dawson with Sam.
Storm was being walked by 80-year-old Leonard Dale when the incident happened in Ian Road, Newchapel, on March 20.
An allegation that Mr Dale was in charge of a dangerous dog was dropped by prosecutors after it was agreed the pensioner was incapable of walking Storm on his own.
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Instead Mr Dale's son, Darren Dale, has admitted being the owner of a dangerous dog.
Now North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court has ruled that Leonard Dale can only walk Storm when he is accompanied by his son. They also fined Darren Dale £290.
Sam's owner Lynda Dawson – whose 16-year-old daughter Hollie was walking the pet at the time – today welcomed the court order.
Darren Dale, aged 47, of Ian Road, Newchapel, has already agreed to pay back the £1,891.57 vet's bill.
Following the sentence, mother-of-two Mrs Dawson, of Jasmine Crescent, Newchapel, said: "I am glad the court has issued the order and as long as the owner sticks to the rules and makes sure it doesn't happen to anyone else's pet then that's OK.
"I only ever wanted my vet's bills covered so I am glad the case was taken seriously.
"He is a dangerous dog and needs to be controlled when in a public place. I just don't want it to happen again because nobody should have to go through what we have."
Sam needed a two-hour emergency operation to repair deep bite wounds following the attack. He also lost two teeth in the incident.
Company director Mrs Dawson added: "Sam has scars which will never go.
"It has taken more than five months for us to get him right. He was traumatised and had to have two operations."
The court heard Darren Dale now accepted his father was incapable of walking Storm on his own.
Giles Rowden, prosecuting, said "Hollie Dawson was walking the dog in Ian Road when she became aware of the rottweiler, named Storm, being walked by Leonard Dale.
"They approached each other and were about five metres away from each other. "Storm sniffed at Sam and began biting it, shaking it violently.
"Thankfully it appears Sam has made a good recovery"
Rebecca Ackerley, mitigating, asked the court to make a control order.
She said Darren Dale had already been keeping Storm muzzled and on a leash.
Comments
by kitcrew
Thursday, September 20 2012, 4:40PM
“That kind of animal is not a dog and as such should not be around dogs,no more than a rabbit should be!”
by stokeandvale
Thursday, September 20 2012, 2:26PM
“At last a Judge has got something right!”
by Ashbury82
Thursday, September 20 2012, 12:22PM
“Being a dog owner myself, I am constantly surprised (actually, not that much) at the amount of irresponsible people who own dogs; never/rarely walked, used as a "threat" or showpiece/toy, never trained, allowed to bark incessantly without correction (the yappy ones especially get my goat) having being let into the garden at stupid o'clock at night/early morning, and obviously incapable of controlling them off-lead in public places. As controversial as it may be, I am coming round to the thinking that we now need a licence to own a dog. Glad to hear Sam has made a recovery anyway.”
by Rookeryboy
Thursday, September 20 2012, 12:07PM
“how much?????
Don't know how Vets cope”