The lives of two dogs which mauled a Yorkshire terrier to death have been spared after the owner of the dog that died said he did not wish to see them destroyed.
Robert Stanford, aged 73, who was himself injured as he tried to protect his two Yorkshire terriers Lilly and Ruby, said as a dog lover he did not want the animals to be put to sleep. However, Mr Stanford hit out at the two-year conditional discharge handed to 20-year-old Marlana Stewart, who was responsible for the dogs.
He said Stewart, of Field Road, Tipton, should have received a custodial sentence or community punishment after she pleaded guilty to two offences of being in charge of a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control. She also pleaded guilty to possessing a fighting dog.
Stewart was also made the subject of two dog control orders relating to the animals she was walking, which belonged to her partner.
She was told that Narla, a Staffordshire bull terrier, should not be allowed in a public place unless on a lead and wearing a full-face muzzle.
A similar order was made on Simba, who was believed to be part pit bull, but also including a contingent destruction order which meant that the animal could be destroyed if the order was breached.
See also: Pensioner's heartbreak after dogs killed Yorkshire terrier
Stewart was also ordered to pay Mr Stanford £250 in compensation.
However, Mr Stanford, who has two artificial knees, said he had run up vets’ bills in excess of £1,000 since the incident in an alleyway off Field Road on December 3 last year.
Lilly was killed quickly during the attack, and Ruby was left needing major veterinary care afterwards, said Mr Stanford from Eastfield Road, Tipton.
Miss Samantha Powys, representing Stewart, said she was 20 years old and of previous good character. She told Judge Robin Onions that if he passed a contingent destruction order, Stewart would be forced to find a new home within two months in order to comply, as the council would not be willing to house a dog with such an order on it.
She added that Stewart had never worked, and was a carer for her partner who suffered from schizophrenia.
“They have had these dogs since they were babies, and they love them,” said Miss Powys. Passing sentence, Judge Onions said the crimes did not warrant a custodial sentence. “You are unable to do unpaid community work for reasons I won’t go into in open court,” he said.
“It is more difficult to control a dog which doesn’t want to be controlled.
“You lost control of these animals, it’s not what you wanted them to do, and if you could have you would have altered it.”
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From out of nowhere, he had a pile of dosh.