A woman whose bulldog repeatedly attacked a 14-year-old boy has been told the animal will not be destroyed.
Carol Innes, 57, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted allowing her American-English bulldog Lola to be dangerously out of control and bite the teenager on his arm and leg.
The sustained attack by the three-year-old animal resulted in the victim having to be rushed to the hospital and left him with permanent scars on his body.
Innes’ solicitor told the court that the behaviour was “out of character” for the dog.
Innes pleaded guilty to one charge of allowing her bulldog to attack the teenager in her home.
Dog bit teen on arm and leg
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann told the court that the 14-year-old and his family had been helping Innes move house on April 11 2020 when Lola attacked.
“When the complainer entered the hallway the dog jumped up at him and bit his arm piercing his skin,” he said.
“Those in attendance pulled the dog off the complainer and attempted to remove it from the room but it bit him again on the thigh.
“The complainer then ran away from the locus.”
Mr McMann told the court that the teenager then had to be taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was treated.
He added that both injuries inflicted by the dog left permanent scars.
‘Dog has been assessed by expert and passed with flying colours’
Defence agent Ian Woodward-Nutt told the court that Innes had hired a dog expert to assess the bulldog following the incident.
He said that it was believed that Lola had suffered as a result of incidents that had occurred in the home, including an attempted break-in.
“This incident happened two years ago and since then there has been no such behaviour from the dog,” he added.
“There was a significant amount of upheaval in the house that day and there was a number of people helping with the move.
“The dog has been assessed by a dog expert and passed with flying colours and since the incident, my client now ensures that the dog wears a muzzle.”
Sheriff Lesley Johnston told Innes: “I take into consideration that the expert does not consider the dog a risk to public safety, so I’m not going to make an order in relation to the dog.”
Sheriff Johnston also admonished Innes, of Aberdeen, in relation to the charges against her.
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