A dog belonging to a Fife pensioner who lost his wife to cancer six months ago has been saved from destruction, despite it attacking another pet and biting the man walking it.
Antonius Pruijsten’s 70kg Dogue de Bordeaux, Oliver, was off the lead when it launched the attack on a path near Cowdenbeath High Street in October last year.
Victim John Adams was left with puncture wounds and needed a Tetanus injection, after splitting up the fight between Oliver and the Staffy-type dog he was walking, which belongs to someone else.
Defence lawyer Laura McLaughlin told Dunfermline Sheriff Court Pruijsten’s position is that his dog was trained to be off the lead and had never been involved in any biting incident before.
She said the attack “took him by surprise”.
The attack
Procurator fiscal depute Lauren Pennycook said Pruijsten was walking his Dogue de Bordeaux off-lead and his late wife’s dog, a puppy, on its lead when he met fellow dog walker Mr Adams on the path, not far from the Old Cross Guns pub.
The fiscal depute said: “It’s (the Dogue de Bordeaux) dragged the dog around by the head with considerable force.
“Mr Adams intervened and grabbed the collar of Mr Pruijsten’s dog to remove it from the dog that was in his care.
“Mr Pruijsten has taken no action to intervene.
“Mr Adams then tended to the dog in his care, which was whelping in pain.
“Mr Adams then turned towards Mr Pruijsten’s dog, which then lunged at him, biting him to the left hand and leaving him with puncture wounds, which were bleeding.
“Mr Pruijsten has not made an attempt to restrain the dog and thereafter walked away.”
Ms Pennycook said Mr Adams returned to the dog owner’s address and police were contacted.
He later attended Victoria Hospital and received a Tetanus injection.
‘Happy, laid back dog’
Ms McLaughlin said Pruijsten, who is from the Netherlands but now lives in Cowdenbeath’s Glanfarg Crescent, did attempt to discuss the incident with Mr Adams but he was understandably angry and upset at the time.
The lawyer said her client later apologised to Mr Adams.
Police attended Pruijsten’s home a few weeks later and he advised officers that since the incident he had kept Oliver on a lead and muzzle.
Ms McLaughlin also highlighted a report from a kennel owner who has boarded Oliver for many years and described him as a “happy, laid back dog which goes about at a leisurely pace” and never having any difficulty with the animal.
The solicitor also said Pruijsten, 71, has owned dogs all of his life and in his younger years was involved in dog showing.
She said a Crown motion for a dog banning order on Pruijsten would be distressing to him because he had made a promise to his late wife to look after her dog, which is still a puppy.
The solicitor added: “He lives alone and the dogs are his company and daily walks are his company.”
Pruijsten previously pled guilty to allowing his Dogue de Bordeaux to roam free and attack, bite and drag another dog being walked by Mr Adams, before it bit Mr Adams himself on the body to his injury on October 19 last year.
Court papers state the dog was off the lead and dangerously out of control.
‘Relief’
Sheriff Alison Michie made no dog disqualification or banning order but said the lack of a destruction order is contingent on him keeping Oliver muzzled and on a lead and not allowing anyone under 18 to walk him.
The dog must also be neutered within two months.
The sheriff ordered him to pay £250 compensation to Mr Adams and £50 to the woman who owned the other dog for vet bills.
Speaking outside court, former Dutch Navy man Pruijsten said he was “relieved” with the sheriff’s decision.
He said it had been a difficult time of late, having lost his wife to breast cancer in December when she was aged 61 and then having to deal with the court case.
