Woman admits letting out-of-control dogs attack Jack Russell and bite female victim in Stevenage

Flo needed staples after the attack. Picture: Supplied to the Comet (Image: Archant)

Ann Dixon was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and pay a total of £859 in fines after pleading guilty to allowing her two Staffordshire Bull Terriers – Big Boy and Rosie – to be dangerously out of control, and allowing one of them to cause injury.

One victim was walking her 13-year-old Jack Russell, Flo, at the open space between Trent Close and Headingley Close on June 28 this year.

Prosecutor Neil Smith stated that at around 5.30pm she heard shouting coming from the direction of Almonds Lane.

She turned and noticed a black dog sprinting towards her, which eventually got hold of Flo by the scruff of the neck and began “shaking her around”.

He said: “Flo was yelping uncontrollably. The owner tried to tell the dog to stop but it wasn’t paying any attention.

“That’s when the tan dog joined in and they both had her. The tan dog had the width of Flo’s leg in his mouth.”

He described how Flo’s owner bravely took control of the situation by grabbing the black dog - Rosie – by the scruff of the neck.

A statement from the victim read: “If I let go it would have turned around and attacked me. The defendant had no control of her dogs and I believe if it turned on me she would not be able to get it off me.

“At this point Flo had stopped yelping and I really thought she was dead.

“Another woman came out of nowhere to help, and between the two of us we managed to get both dogs off of Flo.”

The second woman grabbed the tan dog - Big Boy - by the jaw, trying to pull open his mouth to free Flo’s leg.

After about two minutes, Big Boy released his grip on Flo, however, he then turned on her and bit her arm.

Defending, Mr Jackson said: “The first dog that came into the incident had slipped its collar and lead. With both dogs being walked on a lead, this is not a case of having a disregard for the safety of other people and dogs.

“Because the defendant went to try to assist in stopping the first dog, she was inadvertently bringing the second dog within range.

“The defendant has completely accepted full responsibility.”

Dixon also received a contingent destruction order which means her dogs must be muzzled and held securely on a lead in public and Big Boy must be neutered. If these rules are not complied with the dogs can be destroyed.