Out-of-control dog attacked pet

Rottweiler broke free from tether
A GUARD dog savagely attacked a man’s pet terrier after breaking free of its tether outside an Oldham farm.

Michael Byrne had been walking along a bridle path adjacent to Higher Counthill Farm, when a pair of Rottweilers bounded towards them.

The barking dogs began fighting with each other, one broke free, and immediately went for the pet.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told the horrified owner picked up the small terrier, but the snarling dog lunged at it, grabbing one of its hind legs in its jaws.

Mr Byrne kicked out at the dog in an attempt to stave off the attack, and when its owner appeared he complained to him about its behaviour. Instead of apologising, 38-year old Nadeem Dean threatened to hit him.

Nicola Wells prosecuting, said the injured pet suffered a gash to its leg and damage to its nose. It was later taken to a vet, and treatment cost more than £200.

When interviewed by police after the incident, Dean told officers: “I can’t be responsible for my dogs all the time.”

Sentencing him, Judge Jonathan Geake told him however: “The fact is, as an owner you are.”

He ordered him to pay full compensation for the vet’s fees, ordered him to carry out 50 hours unpaid work in the community, and made him subject of a court order to keep the dog under full control in the future. Any breach would mean the animal would be destroyed.

The court was told the incident happened outside the farm on February 24 last year.

Alison Heyworth, defending, said her client, who pleaded guilty to a charge of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control, had claimed his animal had been provoked by the terrier.

She said the Rottweiler had been on private land, was there as a guard dog, and had been properly tethered. Mr Dean had done what he thought had been properly necessary to keep the animals under control, but had now been caged.

She added: “It is nearly a year since this incident took place, and there have been no further reports of any difficulties since.”