A dog owner whose rescue border collie bit a woman on the street told the victim her pet was “a bit naughty sometimes”.
Jackie MacDonald had removed a muzzle required by a dog control order when the incident occurred.
She admitted having a dog dangerously out of control, and the court heard the animal had since been euthanised.
MacDonald, 60, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court for sentencing having previously admitted a charge of having a dog dangerously out of control in any place.
Fiscal depute Victoria Silver told the court that it was around 2pm on October 15 last year when a woman walking on Mart Road in Dingwall spotted MacDonald walking towards her with her border collie on a lead.
The woman carried on walking and was looking down at her phone when she felt a shove to the left side of her body and was pushed into a fence at a level crossing.
When she looked down, she saw that the dog’s teeth were “latched on” to her left index finger.
Victim’s hand was ‘covered in blood’
The woman pushed the dog back and it released its grip – revealing a cut of around one inch which left the victim’s hand “covered in blood”.
MacDonald then told the woman: “He can be a bit naughty sometimes”.
The victim replied: “Your f***ing dog just bit me.”
MacDonald explained that the dog was a rescue dog and was attending behaviour classes.
As a result of the bite, the victim needed two courses of antibiotics and a tetanus injection.
Police were involved and the local dog warden confirmed that the animal was subject to a dog control order requiring it to be muzzled in public.
Dog’s control order muzzle taken off
Solicitor Rory Gowans, for MacDonald, explained that his client had removed the muzzle on the day in question following advice from a trainer on how to deal with anxious behaviour.
He said: “Mrs MacDonald is very sorry for what happened on the day in question.
“She had had dogs all her life and this has never happened before – all she can do is convey her apologies to the lady in question.”
Sheriff Gary Aitken confirmed that the animal had since been euthanised.
He said: “It is a horrible incident – it is a terrible shame that it ever happened at all – it could have been a lot worse.”
He fined MacDonald, of Tulloch Street, Dingwall, £500.