Dog Must Be Muzzled After Linthorpe Attack

 

A judge has ordered that a German Shepherd dog should wear a muzzle whenever it is outside of the house after it attacked a woman in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough.

The victim had to stay overnight in hospital and needed an operation after suffering bites to her hands and grazed knees in the incident on Devonshire Road.

Owner Joan Stairmand, 53, must pay £200 compensation to the 39-year-old female victim, who was walking her own two dogs at the time of the attack in May.

Ms Stearman admitted being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury at an earlier hearing at Teesside Magistrates Court.

She has now put up a higher fence and a bolt on the gate. She had owned the eight-year-old dog for six years and it had never bitten anyone before.

District Judge Stephen Harmes gave her a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £200 compensation to the victim and £230 court costs.

He gave the dog a contingent destruction order. It must wear a muzzle at all times when it is outside the house and the gate must be kept secure. If the order is broken, the dog will be destroyed.

Macks Solicitors have specialist lawyers who may be able to help you recover compensation if you are the victim of a dog attack. Call 0800 882 4894 for more information.