A rottweiller owner jailed for a year after his two dogs escaped and mauled a young girl in the street is to appeal against his conviction.
Derek Adam (39), who was also banned from keeping dogs for life, has lodged a notice of intention to appeal with the Crown Office.
A jury found him guilty in December of being the owner of the rottweilers, Big Boy or Fat Boy and Pretty Girl, which on August 29 2010 were dangerously out of control and mauled another dog and a child, who was repeatedly bitten and mauled to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Adam was also found guilty of failing to comply with an order to keep the dogs under proper control.
His legal team have confirmed he has appealed and the matter will go before the Appeal Court in Edinburgh.
A spokesman for his legal team said: ”A notice of intention to appeal has been lodged with the justiciary office and intimated to the Crown Office.”
It is understood the grounds for appeal have still to be fully prepared and lawyers require the tapes of the sheriff’s charge to the jury to be transcribed before officially submitting the appeal.
Adams was sentenced for 12 months after what Sheriff Richard Davidson said was ”a spectacular failing on your part,” when his dogs escaped from the garden of the home of his partner, Sarah Kerr, in Lindon Road.
The jury took 40 minutes to find Adam, of Lintrathen Street, guilty, while finding the case against Kerr (34) not proven.
The court had heard the dogs had escaped from the compound at Kerr’s home, but she maintained she was unaware of their presence, saying Adam ”dumped” them on her.
The child, who is now 11, received severe injuries to her neck, face, arms and legs.
The sheriff praised the courage of Irene Grady, the woman who rescued the child from the dogs, saying: ”It is to her eternal credit that she remained at least outwardly calm.”
Sheriff Davidson also criticised Adam’s ”couldn’t care less” attitude.
He told Adams the court must punish people like him who didn’t care about the harm their dogs may cause: ”who only want big dogs to make up for their own inadequacies.”
He also called on parliament to review its legislation on dangerous dogs and introduce tighter licensing rules, saying: ”The politicians need to decide whether dogs or children come first.”