A woman whose Staffordshire cross-breed attacked a guide dog was yesterday ordered by a court to keep her pet muzzled in public.
Barbara Hitchin’s dog Bess broke free from her lead and bit David Monckton’s guide dog Jazz in the neck, Llandudno magistrates court heard.
Prosecutor James Neary said Mr Monckton tried to kick out at Bess but he fell to the ground before Hitchin’s husband managed to grab hold of their dog.
Mr Neary said Jazz, a labrador, needed two injections to prevent infection and was now distracted by other dogs.
A 'contingent destruction order' was imposed
Mr Monckton had been unable to go out for two days but he didn’t want Hitchin’s dog destroyed.
Magistrates’ chairwoman Jean Bryson said as the attack was unexpected and isolated that only a “contingent destruction order” would be imposed.
But she told Hitchins, 61, of King’s Avenue, Llandudno, that Bess must be muzzled in public on a lead no longer than a metre and that it only be taken out by her or her husband.
Imposing fines and costs of more than £800, the chairwoman added: “We regarded you as a responsible owner and didn’t consider a destruction order was necessary. We don’t believe the dog is a danger to public safety.”
What happened was 'every dog owner's nightmare'
She was fined £250, ordered to pay £388 compensation to the Guide Dogs Association and £100 to David Monckton who relied on the Labrador guide dog for assistance, and £110 costs.
Defence solicitor Roger Thomas said what happened was “probably every dog owner’s nightmare.”
Hitchin had owned dogs for 44 years without such an incident.
Since the attack Bess had been muzzled and kept on a fixed lead.
“This does appear to be an isolated incident, not foreseen,” Mr Thomas added.
Hitchin admitted being the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control in Kings Avenue, Llandudno, on November 18, and caused injury to an assistance dog.
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/guide-dog-attacked-llandudno-womans-10691101
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