15-stone dog faces being put down after biting row
Last updated 16:09, Tuesday, 05 August 2008
A 15-STONE dog faces being put down after biting a nine-year-old boy in Dalton.
Bruce, a Rottweiller-German Shepherd cross, broke through the baby gate in the kitchen and bit Louis’ arm.
The incident, on July 23, was witnessed by an off-duty policewoman, who told Louis’ granddad that the dog ran out of the house, knocked Louis to the ground and bit him on the top of his left arm.
Sam Guy, the boy’s granddad took the nine-year-old to Furness General Hospital after he was called by Louis’ 15-year-old brother Adam. A surgeon at the hospital told them the injury may require skin grafting and Louis needed to go to Preston Royal Hospital, where he spent two nights recovering from the ordeal.
Mr Guy said: “Luckily they managed to pull the remaining skin together and stitch up the wound, so they won’t need to do a skin graft.”
The dog’s owner, Ms Olsen, 30, explained that Bruce had recently fathered 11 puppies with Tess, a three-year-old female Rottweiller.
Ms Olsen said: “Tess and Bruce have grown up together and this is their third litter. We’re really sorry about what happened to Louis but Bruce was only trying to protect his babies.
“We’ve kept telling kids not to come near the door because he’s so protective. I’d be absolutely devastated if Bruce got put down, we all would.”
After returning home from hospital, Louis said: “I love dogs. I’ve got a sheepdog called Scooby who’s three, but this dog should be destroyed for what it did to me.”
Under current law, if a dog is dangerously out of control in a public place and injures someone, the courts may order the destruction of the dog.
The owner may also be fined and sent to prison for a maximum of six months, and an order can also be made preventing them from owning dogs in a specified period of time.
Ulverston Sergeant Rupert Johnston, at Ulverston police station, confirmed an investigation was ongoing and that police had identified the dog and its owner. He said: “We are investigating an incident where a nine-year-old male was bitten by a dog on Wednesday at around 3pm.”
The investigation is being led by PC Tony Howson.
Sergeant Johnston explained the attack was unusual but that police were looking to prosecute the owner of the dog.
I think the dog should not be put down it was the boys fault bacause the women said not to go near the gate because she had just had her puppies and she was only looking out for them
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Dogs are mere animals and will always defend their own, including their owners. If it was an isolated case then it should not be put down, everyone deserves a second chance, even animals. Why don`t they put a muzzle on it, if it is outside, I know it got out by mistake. The owners are going to have to take extreme measures so it does not run out in public again. Otherwise it could end up being put down. Children get hit by cars, but they don`t put the car drivers down!!!
Posted by sheila drewery on 7 August 2008 kl. 10:57