Fine for out-of-control dog

Monday 11 September 2023

A 65-year-old woman has been ordered to pay compensation and vets bills after her Staffordshire Bull Terrier pounced on ponies in a Torteval field while off its lead.

Julie Ann Jones pleaded guilty to failing to restrain her dog after it chased and attacked four ponies during a walk on 15 April.

Prosecuting Advocate Phoebe Cobb told the Magistrate’s Court that Jones had lost sight of the dog and saw it running over to the animals. She was unable to release its grip despite repeated efforts to stop the attack.

A nearby witness recorded the events and phoned police and the GSCPA. Jones herself phoned police while driving her dog to the vet immediately afterwards.

There were eight ponies in the field, four of which sustained facial and leg injuries which required veterinary assistance totalling £1,908.19.

The injured ponies all fully recovered, but the dog was euthanised days after the incident due to associated injuries it received, mainly due to kicks from the ponies.

Advocate Sam Steel, defending, said his client accepted that she should’ve kept the dog on the lead and was sorry it had happened.

Jones had acted “as quickly as possible” to separate the animals and the dogs behaviour was surprising, he added.

Advocate Steel noted that Jones already had a “severe punishment” of having her dog “kicked to death”.

Judge Gary Perry, sentencing, said “owning a breed such as this comes with responsibility”.

He recognised Jones was not of previous good character but had no similar offences.

She was ordered to pay the vet bills in full and £900 compensation, as an alternative to 45-days in prison, to the ponies’ owner in weekly instalments.