7st dog walker ‘too weak’ to control bull mastiff

Published on 03/04/2012 00:10

A SEVEN-STONE woman who was too weak to hold on to the dogs she was walking has been fined £250 for letting them attack a female jogger and her pet.

Janette Bell, 53, told a court she had under-estimated the power of her friend’s bull mastiff, Tank, and was not strong enough to hold on to his lead.

Tank and her own dog charged after jogger Karen Westley and subjected her and her pet retriever to a ten-minute attack.

John Malpass, prosecuting, told Perth Sheriff Court: “The accused is the owner of a sharpei cross boxer dog and was responsible for the care of a bull mastiff dog at the time of the offence.

“They are very large, very strong dogs and she seemed to be struggling to control both of them on the lead. Both dogs started to run towards the complainer and her dog, having slipped loose from the accused.

“The complainer managed to pick her own dog up, but that didn’t deter both dogs. The bull mastiff bit the complainer on her arm.”

Miss Westley was taken to hospital suffering from puncture wounds and bruising.

Paul Ralph, defending, said: “I don’t think she [Bell] had factored in the strength required to take both dogs for a walk.”