Published date: 01 February 2017 |
Published by: Staff reporterRead more articles by Staff reporter
A guide dog for the blind was attacked by another dog on Deeside.
The guide dog, a black Labrador named Len, was not on duty at the time but was being exercised by the owner’s husband.
But the animal was left shocked by the attack, was injured and needed veterinary attention.
He also had to be reassessed to ensure he was suitable to continue as a guide dog after the traumatic attack, Flintshire Magistrates Court at Mold was told yesterday.
The attack took about five minutes and nearby workers and passers-by went to the victim’s aid and pull off the Staffordshire bull terrier named Kyser.
The owner of the dogs, media worker Thievyarj Jeyabalan, 23, of Church Street in Connah’s Quay, admitted Kyser was dangerously out of control on August 25 last year.
He was placed on a 12-month community order with 140 hours unpaid work.
District Judge Gwyn Jones made a control order in respect of his two dogs, including an Alsatian type dog called Rocky.
It means they must be muzzled and on a lead at all times in public.
The defendant – said to be devastated by what had happened after his two dogs escaped from his home – was ordered to pay £410 compensation for the vet’s fees and the cost of reassessing Len plus £200 compensation to the owners.
He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 surcharge.
The judge said he accepted Jeyabalan was normally a responsible and careful dog owner.
Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told the Mold court Paul Baker was exercising his wife’s assistance dog, a seven-year-old Labrador, and was in the process of crossing the road at Church Street when the attack happened.
Two dogs ran up very quickly and within seconds Len was attacked. The Staffie had his ear in his mouth, was on his back and would not let go.
A council worker and passers-by stopped to help but Mrs Jackson said both dogs were still on Len and they all struggled to get them off.
Mr Baker ended up on the ground at one stage, was grazed, and later said that it was the longest five minutes of his life.
He said he was in fear because the other dogs were extremely aggressive and vicious.
The victim – who said he was exercising Len while his wife recovered from an operation – said he was so grateful to the others who had stopped to help otherwise “Len would not be with us”.
His wife Amanda said in a victim impact statement that she had been housebound before she had Len.
He was “her eyes” but she had been initially scared to take him out again.
He had not been himself the following day, was jumpy and looking for reassurance all the time.
Mrs Jackson said Len had been reassessed, was working again, and did not require any additional training following the attack.
Interviewed, the owner said he wanted to apologise for what had happened.
They had escaped from the house, they had since taken additional measures to prevent them getting out, and he said they were normally friendly family dogs.
Solicitor Fiona Larkin, defending, said Jeyabalan had had Kyser since he was a puppy and was friendly towards people but did not like other dogs.
She said only Kyser was involved in the attack.
Both were normally kept on a lead and muzzled in public and there was a baby gate at the door to prevent them getting out but that day his father came in with two shopping bags and the dogs escaped.
Since then the front door was kept locked at all times, a new baby gate which slammed shut immediately had been installed.
They were only walked late at night when other dog walkers were not about or away from public parks.
He was a careful and responsible dog owner who was absolutely devastated by what had happened, she said.
http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/171909/guide-dog-attacked-and-mauled-by-bull-terrier-on-deeside.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment