A PENSIONER ended up with a broken hip after being attacked by a dalmatian when a hedgehog rescue mission turned nasty.

The dog, named Larry, has since been destroyed - but the 68-year-old victim said the "beautiful animal" should not have been killed but simply trained better.

Edna Burton is suing the 18-month-old dog's owner, Elizabeth Kay, through the small claims court for damages.

The 38-year-old owner of Bizzi Lizzi Housekeeper cleaning services and Bay Horse barmaid appeared before Furness Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Mr Simon Clements, prosecuting, explained to the hearing how Ms Burton had been friends with the defendant. She had contacted the pensioner over advice about two hedgehogs she had in her garden.

Ms Burton said she would pop around the following day with a friend, Tracy Worthington, who knew how to deal with the animals.

Mr Clements said: "It was just before 11am on June 12 when they arrived at the defendant's home.

"She said the dog was in the garden and she went over to the hedgehogs. The animal jumped at her and ripped her T-shirt. She picked up a hedgehog and put it in her bag and covered it. The dog jumped at her again causing a puncture wound to her arm and the force knocked her over. She curled up in a ball but the dog was scratching at her ankle. She was helped up and cleaned up.

"Her hip didn't feel right afterwards so she went to A&E and discovered her hip was fractured and she ended up needing surgery to pin it."

Kay, of Skelwith Drive, Barrow, pleaded guilty to having a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury.

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Mr Andrew Gallagher, defending, said: "This defendant is devastated. This was out of character for Larry and he was protecting the hedgehogs and was very protective of them. The defendant lived on her own with her dog.

"She asked for advice from her friend and they arranged she would come around at 11.30am. They in fact turned up at 10.40am and went into the garden where Larry was. She was still upstairs getting ready.

"When Larry saw the hedgehogs being out in a bag he went to protect them and subsequently jumped up. In 99 per cent of such cases such an injury wouldn't happen."

Magistrates gave her 100 hours of community service and told her to pay court costs of £85, a victim surcharge of £85 and to pay £105.50 for the damaged clothing.

She was not banned from keeping animals as they said it was a one-off incident that could not have been predicted.

Speaking after the hearing Ms Burton said: "I love animals of all kinds and these hedgehogs has just been abandoned and I was taking them away to look after them.

"Larry was a beautiful animal and there was no need for him to be put down. He was just really unruly. He just needed training better. It's sad, just so sad."

She added that the hedgehogs were doing fine.