Dogs who hospitalised two men following an attack will NOT be put down
Two dogs have been spared being put down after biting two men because the owner was not to blame, magistrates decided.
Keira Morris, 39, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months at Telford Magistrates Court yesterday after admitting to being the owner in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in Telford on August 23.
Philip Tranter and Gary Pearson were both taken to hospital after being attacked when they went to investigate the sounds of children crying and dogs barking in Worcester Road, Dawley.
Both were taken to hospital for treatment following the incident.
But Morris had been on holiday at the time, and had hired a professional dog walker to check in on Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross Sadie and cocker spaniel cross Riley. David Bratt, for Morris, said that vandals had knocked down her fence and allowed the dogs to escape.
Magistrates decided that she had done everything in her power to keep the animals safe.
Morris said “thank you, thank you, thank you” when they said they were sparing the dogs’ lives. The animals will need to be muzzled and on a lead when out in public, magistrates said. They also advised that the fence was reinforced to make sure the issue would not happen again.
Prosecuting, Sara Beddow said Mr Tranter heard children crying in the street. When he went to intervene he was bitten on his left hand.
Mr Pearson was attacked in the street after he also went to investigate the commotion, he was bitten on the leg by one of the dogs and was left with a gaping wound.
Magistrate Lesley Thirlwell said that Morris had “previous good character”.
“We have given you a conditional discharge,” Mrs Thirwell said.
“If you appear in court for any other reason, this case could be reopened.”
Morris was ordered to pay £355 in total, including £200 compensation to be split between the two victims. She will also pay £135 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge
