A Fife pensioner’s dog, which attacked a jogger, has been spared from destruction.
Christine Nicol, 64, of Forth Street East, Cellardyke, admitted her Belgian Shepherd was dangerously out of control on February, 16, 2013 on Blacklaws Road in Kilrenny.
She further admitted the dog attacked a man by jumping on him and scratching him on the body to his injury, contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.
Cupar Sheriff Court heard the jogger was attacked as he tried to run past the dog.
The Crown said: “The dog was not on a leash but was muzzled. It went running up the complainer and started jumping up at him, causing him to sustain scratches to his thigh, and slight bruising.”
Nicol’s defence solicitor said the dog was not on a leash as it had been let off to exercise for a short while and her client was just about to put him in the car when the jogger went past and startled it.
“This particular dog was attacked itself when it was younger,” she said, adding that Nicol had kept dogs all her life.
After the incident, Nicol was served with an order for the dog to always be muzzled and kept on a leash.
Sheriff Charles Macnair said he was satisfied it did not sound like the dog had wanted to attack but rather it had reacted as a result of being frightened or excited.
“Clearly a large, young dog of this sort is quite likely to jump up on people for various reasons,” he added. “I am satisfied this is a case not to order the destruction of the dog because under the current order serviced the dog will not pose any danger to the public.”
Sheriff Macnair fined Nicol £135 and ordered her to pay the complainer £100 in compensation.