Dog to be destoyed after attacking postman

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A rescue home dog that twice bit a postman doing his rounds in Coleford has been ordered to be destroyed within three weeks.

Frome magistrates said the black Labrador-collie cross called Sooty posed too much of a risk to the public to be spared.

The owner, Paul Godridge, 42, of Fairfield, Coleford admitted in court last week that he had allowed the dog to be in a public place where it was not permitted to be.

He had been instructed to keep the dog muzzled in public after a previous incident in October last year when it had bitten a woman.

Postman Alan Parfitt had been bitten by the dog during his rounds in Coleford earlier this year, and agreed to overlook the matter.

But when the same dog attacked him some months later, injuring his fingers and an elbow and ripping a bundle of mail out of his hand, Mr Parfitt felt he had to report the incident to police.

Mr Godridge, with his wife and grown-up son took on Sooty from Bath Cats and Dogs Home last spring when the dog was a year old.

Crown prosecutor Lesley Ness described how Sooty had come crashing through a garden door when Mr Parfitt had been doing his postal rounds at 9.15am on July 24.

She said: “He heard the dog hit against a garden gate, there was a loud bang, and the gate flew open. The dog had its teeth bared and was snarling.”

She described how the animal had leapt at the postman, leaving him with teeth marks on two fingers and a bleeding elbow as it snatched the mail from his hand.

She said Mr Godridge had come out of a side gate and had tried to restrain the animal.

“Mr Parfitt said the dog was still trying to jump up at him, and he told Mr Godridge he would be reporting the matter,” said Miss Ness.

She said Mr Parfitt had been given a tetanus injection, his wounds were dressed, and he was given a week’s course of antibiotics and painkillers.

Solicitor Patrick Crossman, defending, said Mr Godridge was always very careful to ensure that his dog was kept locked in the back garden.

He said he had slipped out through the open gate in January when Mr Godridge had been moving flowerpots, which had resulted in Mr Parfitt being bitten for the first time.

“They adopted Sooty from the Bath Cats and Dogs Home, and were told he had had a difficult upbringing, and had been maltreated,” said Mr Crossman.

“They re-visited the home several times for dog training, and took the dog for further training to K9 in Frome.

“They took looking after the dog very seriously. They love him and do not want to see him destroyed.”

Mr Crossman read from a letter submitted by Sharon Arnold from the K9 dog training school.

In it she said the family had improved their handling of Sooty since attending training sessions with him.

But she said more behavioural work would be needed before they could handle the dog adequately.

“They will undertake this work regularly from now on, with the advice and guidance of Miss Arnold,” said Mr Crossman.

He said Mr Godridge’s sister-in-law and mother had vouched for the good behaviour of Sooty, and both agreed that he had improved and become more manageable in recent months.

But magistrates were not satisfied that the dog was safe and could be adequately restrained, and ordered his destruction.

They also fined Mr Godridge £100 with £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge, and ordered him to pay £200 compensation to Mr Parfitt.

[andy2007]

Why do they give such pathetic punishments to the owners, and kill the dogs?
The owner should have been Jailed (let's see how many owners continue to be careless, if they risk Jail! ), and the dog should have been found a RESPONSIBLE owner!

There's nothing to prevent Paul Godridge getting another dog in the future. And failing to look after, and control it. I dispair of our legal system at times!

[nelson]

The dog is still young and although I feel for the postie, the dog should be found a new owner. The owner should be muzzled

[NWpostie]

Can't take the chance, it has already bitten 3 times and probably an unknown number of unreported occasions, the Dog wil get a taste of biting and become bolder, no, terminate the Dog AND the owner I say.