Owner weeps over dog's death sentence following Cannock attack

Lisa Dean's Alsatian-rottweiler cross Teddy was one of three of her dogs that escaped through a broken fence at her former home in Bilston, running onto the street and attacking Raj Rani as she walked her pet, Brandon.

Dean, now of Stafford Road, Cannock, last month pleaded guilty to owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury and owning a dog dangerously out of control.

The attack happened in Bagnall Road on April 21, with Ms Rani picking up Brandon as they were both mauled by Teddy, leaving her with an injured hand and her pet bleeding heavily from his back due to a large wound. A week earlier on April 14, the three dogs had also got through the hedge and were aggressive toward a man walking his dog Rocco in Mill Street, Bilston.

During sentencing at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court this week, District Judge Graham Wilkinson said: "I make no bones about it, the second offence is the serious one. Once people like you realise your dog is a danger you have to do everything to secure that dog, and you didn't. The second time has almost killed a five-year-old's dog and that is on you.

"You have got these dogs, it is your job to protect the public from them."

Dean, 41, came outside to get the dogs but did not speak to the victims, Judge Wilkinson said, which was an aggravating factor.

"You didn't stay outside to see if anyone was hurt and how the dog was, you just shut your door and hoped it would go away," he said.

A police report says Teddy is a danger to other dogs, not people, however Judge Wilkinson said: "He becomes a danger to members of the public as they protect their dogs, as Ms Rani did. Your dog wasn't going for her initially, he was going for her dog."

A visibly upset Dean told the court she wanted Teddy back but did not feel she was capable of handling him.

Judge Wilkinson said: "If you don't feel you can control him I have no choice but to order his immediate destruction.

"His aggression is the product of the beatings your ex-partner gave him while you stood by and watched."

Dean said she only witnessed one beating and told her ex-partner to stop, but Judge Wilkinson said she would have had some idea what was happening.

"If you haven't protected the dog you haven't protected the public in my mind," he added.

He sentenced Dean to 12 weeks prison, suspended for a year, and ordered her to pay costs and compensation of £985.