Woman's pet dog bit walker on towpath
A woman has admitted being in charge of a dangerous dog after her pet attacked a man as he walked along a canal towpath in Walsall Wood.
Lynda Macmillan, aged 61, pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place, namely a white Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Magistrates heard the pet – which had bitten another victim in the past – injured Simon Hayes.
Miss Jayne Yeomans, prosecuting, told Walsall Magistrates Court the seven-year-old dog pulled away from Macmillan, of Camden Street, Walsall Wood, on June 24 and bit Mr Hayes on the leg.
"The injured party was walking along the canal towpath and says he saw a female with two dogs. They were a black Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a similar small white dog.
"As he got to about 50 yards from the female, the dog which was on a lead, pulled away from her towards him. The dog ran up to the complainant and bit him on the right calf. He describes being on the ground and being in immense pain.
"He says he shouted at the defendant and she replied 'I'm not going to to stay here while you are swearing' and left the scene. He hobbled home and his son took him to hospital for treatment. As a result of the incident Mr Hayes says he had two weeks off work unpaid, which left him £800 out of pocket," Miss Yeomans said.
She also told the court Macmillan had a previous conviction for a similar offence as the dog had bitten someone in the Devon and Cornwall police area.
But she added that West Midlands Police was not asking for the dog to be put down.
"The police are not asking for the dog to be destroyed, but want the magistrates to consider making a contingency order for the dog to be considered. This would require it to be kept under proper control and if it isn't then consideration can be given for it to be put down," Miss Yeomans said.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act the court is obliged to consider a destruction order as the terrier had caused a physical injury.
Mr David Grice, defending, told the court he agreed with the assessment of the situation.
He said: "She didn't walk away as such, but left because the man was swearing, which was understandable. She says she went round the corner and remained there. She asked other people in the area to check if he was okay."
Chairman of the bench Miss Eileen Jones adjourned the case until September 2 for reports.
