A vet will be enlisted to determine if a north-east dog that sank its teeth into a nine-year-old girl’s leg should be allowed to live.
Peterhead woman Carolyn Reid appeared at the town’s sheriff court yesterday to plead guilty to breaching the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Reid was walking with her two Yorkshire terrier Lhasa-Apso mixes when she lost control of one of the pets, understood to be named Loki.
It set upon the child, who was riding on her scooter in the town’s Berryden Road after school while her grandfather followed behind.
Noticing blood seeping through her clothing, the grandfather found she had sustained two puncture wounds to her lower left calf.
Now the town’s sheriff court wants to find out whether the animal poses “an on-going danger” to the public.
Fiscal depute Karen Dow told the court that when the grandfather confronted 53-year-old shop worker Reid in the wake of the attack last November, she responded by slapping the dog.
She said: “At no point did the accused apologise for the dog’s actions.”
Local solicitor Sam Milligan, who was defending Reid, said she had taken steps to ensure it did not happen again.
He presented photographs of the dog to Sheriff Christine McCrossan showing the animal was now wearing a muzzle while out on walks.
Mr Milligan said: “As you can see the dog has been muzzled and that is the way the dog now presents.
“This is a step the owner has taken herself. I should also proffer apologies on behalf of Mrs Reid.
“My client had fallen and the lead had extended beyond the length she had anticipated.
“In fairness, my client was in something of a state of shock.”
Mr Milligan said his client was offering to make compensation payments of £50 per month.
Sheriff Christine McCrossan deferred sentence for a month to allow a vet to evaluate the dog.
She said: “I want to be sure the dog won’t present an on-going danger.”
Reid, of Lochside Road, Peterhead, will appear in the dock again on May 1.
