Carol Lynne Davies pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control and caused injury when she appeared at Swansea Magistrates Court
A DOG owner who allowed her German Shepherd to attack a caller to her house has been fined — and a contingent destruction order has been placed on the animal.
Swansea Magistrates Court heard that a door-to-door canvasser called at Carol Lynne Davies' property in Pontardawe to be greeted by what he described as a "large Husky-type dog" barking and snarling at the gate to the back garden.
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The court heard that the dog kept jumping at the gate until it opened — the dog then bounded over to the caller and sunk his teeth into his right thigh.
Julie Sullivan, prosecuting, said the canvasser described a "searing pain" in his leg and tried to turn away from the animal which kept jumping at him and biting him.
The court heard Davies saw what was happening and rushed to the man's aid, grabbing the four-year-old German Shepherd by his collar and dragging him away. She then apologised to the victim.
Davies, aged 49, of Gelligron Road, Gelligron, Pontardawe, pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control that caused injury on June 23 when she appeared before justices.
The court heard the canvasser suffered "numerous grazes and scram marks" down one side of his body, minor puncture wounds, and bruising and swelling.
The court heard that in her police interview Davies said she had got the dog from a friend and that is usually spent its days in the kitchen of the property.
She told officers that the dog was good with children, and that the attack was "out of character" for the animal.
Matt Henson, for Davies, said the attack had been an isolated incident and that the defendant had taken steps to ensure a similar thing couldn't happen again including raising the garden gate and installing a chain and lock to keep it shut.
He asked the bench not to issue a dog destruction order, something which courts routinely consider when dealing with Dangerous Dogs Act cases.
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Julie Mallinson, chairwoman of the bench, said the incident could have been much more serious if, for example, the caller at the door had been a child.
She told Davies: "I am sure you do not need me to tell you being a dog owner carries huge responsibilities — not just to the dog but to members of the wider community."
Magistrates fined Davies £120 and ordered her to pay £80 prosecution costs and £30 surcharge. They also ordered the defendant to pay the victim £200 compensation.
Magistrates decided against an immediate dog destruction order but issued a contingent order, meaning the dog won't be put down if the owner complies to certain conditions — namely, that the animal is kept on a lead controlled by a person not under-16 at all times in a public place, and that it wears a muzzle in public places.
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