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Owner's guilty plea over bulldog attack

A bulldog attacked another dog after escaping from its owner's back garden, a court heard.

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The American Bulldog set upon a Jack Russell on Connaught Road, near West Park, Wolverhampton, in broad daylight earlier this year.

Charlotte Brown, of Walpole Street, Whitmore Reans, appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court after admitting being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control.

The dog, called Bollo, had escaped from her garden after a fence had blown down and attacked the other pet, biting it several times in the neck and body.

Mrs Maxine Jarrousse-Jones, prosecuting, said: "The victim saw the dog walking out of Tettenhall Road and into Connaught Street and alerted two female runners to the dog.

"Bollo then saw the victim's dog, crossed over the road and grabbed the dog by the neck area.

"The attack lasted a matter of minutes during which police were called.

"When officers arrived Bollo was standing next to the dog preventing him from moving, but showed no sign of aggression towards the officers.

"The victim's dog was taken to the vets with a number of puncture wounds to the neck and body."

Mrs Jarrousse-Jones told the court that when Brown had noticed Bollo was missing she had called the police and got a friend to drive around the area looking for him.

She also said that Brown would not have been able to see that the fence had been blown down.

Mr John Marchant, for Brown, said his client had done everything possible to find the dog after realising it had escaped.

He said: "She pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and had no previous convictions.

"It was an unfortunate incident, which didn't involve a human. Her dog, Bollo, also had injuries.

"She has repaired the fence now and knows she should have been more careful."

Mr Paul Eckett, chairman of the magistrates bench, gave Brown a 12-month conditional discharge and also ordered her to pay £150 in compensation.

He said: "We believe in this case that you are a victim of circumstance and a responsible dog owner."

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