A dangerous Japanese akita that scarred three victims, including a seven-year-old child, has been ordered to be put down.
The dog’s tearful owner was banned from owning dogs for seven years by Sheriff Richard Davidson at Dundee Sheriff Court on Thursday and told she was “within one inch of being sent to prison”.
Sharon Lindsay, 40, of Larch Street, was also placed on a nine-month curfew.
Lindsay admitted three charges of her dog being dangerously out of control and biting three separate victims all of whom received permanent scarring at her home in the West End.
The court heard the nine-month-old dog, Bo, attacked its first victim on October 16 last year.
A former friend of Lindsay’s, Michelle Rossi, found Bo chewing on a handbag and went to remove the bag.
Depute fiscal Lisa Marshall told the court: “Without warning the dog bit Ms Rossi on the wrist, puncturing the skin.”
Bo’s second victim was a child on February 5.
The dog lunged towards the child and bit it on the face.
A Dundee City Council dog officer attended and gave Lindsay an official warning, advising she keep the dog in a separate room when she has guests.
Lindsay ignored these warnings, however, and on March 17 Bo bit a friend of Lindsay’s, Pauline Getty, on the face.
Bo then took a second bite out of Ms Getty’s cheek, leaving her face pouring with blood.
Ms Getty was taken to hospital where she received eight stitches to her left cheek and 14 stitches to her chin, resulting in her receiving plastic surgery and an unknown number of internal stitches.
Even after these incidents Lindsay refused to have the dog put down, with the court told she even tried to blame one of her friends for “goading” the dog.
Sheriff Davidson ordered the dog be destroyed, saying: “I’ve thought about this long and hard, but the fact that there were three repeat incidents leaves me no alternative.”
Acting on behalf of the accused, solicitor George Donnelly told the court Lindsay was struggling with a number of personal issues in her life, including the death of her father and child, and was abusing alcohol.
Sheriff Davidson added: “I accept you have had a lot of difficulties in your life, but turning to alcohol is not the answer. I’m encouraged to see you are getting support with that.
“But given your denial to take responsibility you are within one inch of being sent to prison.”
Japanese akitas have been involved in several mauling incidents, but they are not banned in the UK.