Dog facing death sentence after attacking postie

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A dangerous dog that attacked a postie in Dundee is facing a death sentence, a sheriff warned.

The owner of Sarge, who jumped up and bit a post woman on the thigh, was told on Friday that his pet could be destroyed in order to protect the public.

Ryan MacDonald, 34, admitted failing to keep his dog, a huge Perro de Presa Canario, under proper control when it attacked his postie during her rounds on May 18.

The female postie Penny Mackay was bitten on her right thigh when the dog leapt at her in the garden of MacDonald's house in Dundee.

The victim was rushed to Ninewells hospital in Dundee where she was given a tetanus jab and had her leg dressed.

MacDonald, a plumber, admitted that he failed to keep Sarge "under proper control".

Sentence was deferred for veterinary reports and photographs of the post woman's injuries.

Sheriff Alistair Duff told MacDonald that the dog might have to be "condemned" to prevent further attacks.

The sheriff also raised concerns that the dog had a history, pointing to a report that said Sarge had been involved in a previous incident in 2007 when it had been "extremely aggressive" and "wagging its tail and lunging at the same time."

He said: "The report says that the dog should be approached with care and that its owner had poor control. There is also some hint that Mr MacDonald is not the most cooperative client the vet has ever had."

Responsible ownership

Sheriff Duff told MacDonald in the dock: "I am reluctant to condemn this dog, but I will do it if I don't see some evidence of responsible ownership.

"Rest assured, you should not think that I want to harm your dog, but I have a wider interest than just you and your dog. An order to destroy a dog is not something that should be readily embarked upon."

He deferred sentence until next month to gain reports and "to be given some comfort about the concerns I have."

Solicitor Gary Foulis blamed the dog's behaviour on "a recent medical procedure."

He said: "This is not a case where the dog was running wild.

Mr MacDonald has had the dog for five years and has always looked after it very well.

"The dog had undergone a medical procedure just weeks before and was on medication at the time."

He added: "Since the incident he has taken further measures to keep the dog under control. He has installed a cage behind the door of the property and the dog is always locked up when there is people about. He has also put up signage in his garden.

The Perro de Presa Canario breed are thick-bodied and muscular, with huge heads and powerful jaws.

They have been gained notoriety in America where they have been blamed for two recent fatalities, and are even banned in Australia.

[brothermagrew]

To date the USA has sustained 25 fatal dog attacks in 2010.

On August 18th 2006, a Presa Canario ripped the jugular vein from the neck of its owner, Shawna Willey, 30, in Tamarac, Florida. She was giving the dog a bath and it bit her a half dozen times.

This is the same breed of dog that killed Diane Whipple.

http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/Whipple.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[NWpostie]

Just execute them from the first bite, no second chance endex.

[DGP1]

Why bother with such a big dog....................must be compensating for something else

[POSTMAN]

People in glass houses.......................i've seen your car on Facebook DG...

[bunkerland]

People in glass houses.......................i've seen your car on Facebook DG...

Where does the spare go?

[POSTMAN]

People in glass houses.......................i've seen your car on Facebook DG...

Where does the spare go?

Round DG's waist with the other one.

[DGP1]

People in glass houses.......................i've seen your car on Facebook DG...

People in glass houses......................should get changed in the basement and my car seems perfectly reasonable, just think of all the mail I can get delviered in it

[Straight4ward]

Very emoting headline "Dog facing death sentence", guaranteed to get the dog loving public all het up.

Never mind that a postie got attacked. "Oh, the poor dog" Never mind the it's a f**king brute of a breed that no sane person would or should want to keep. Never mind that it has previous, never mind that its owner sounds like a complete scumbag.

No, we are all meant to feel sympathy for the "the poor dog". Well I for one don't, have it put down! Don't prevaricate Your Honour do the right thing for a change.

Rant over.