A Japanese Akita that bit a woman's face in an unprovoked attack after escaping from a garden could potentially be destroyed.
The Akita, named Fudge, caused cuts to a woman's face and injured her dog on May 12 this year after jumping a garden fence. Fudge's owner, Dawn Owens, was subsequently given a community order after she pleaded guilty to having a dangerous dog that caused serious injury. She was also banned from keeping dogs for period of time and a destruction order was imposed on Fudge.
On Thursday, Owens, of Lincoln Drive, Willington, appeared at Durham Crown Court to appeal the sentence and the destruction order. An assessment by the RSPCA will now be carried out on Fudge.
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Telling the court about the incident, barrister Tabitha Buck said the attack happened shortly before 10am when the victim was walking her Whippet-Collie cross, called Bronson. She said: "The appellant's dog, Fudge jumped the front garden fence and carried out an unprovoked attack on Bronson. During that, the victim attempted to move them apart and Fudge bit her, causing puncture wounds to her nose and lip." Upon seeing the attack, Owens managed to grab hold of Fudge, putting an end to the attack. As well as the injuries caused to the owner, Bronson also sustained an injury to the hind leg, which required stitches.
Ms Buck said Owens had no previous convictions and that there was the prospect of Fudge being looked after by a male acquaintance of hers who was "taking steps to keep Fudge under control in public and in private". However, the court heard that Fudge had been involved in two other incidents in 2016 - in August of that year, Fudge bit someone's finger, causing wounds. Two months later, in October, the dog was acting in an "aggressive manner" by a dog walker.
Speaking on behalf of Owens, Chris Morrison asked for an independent assessment to be carried out on Fudge to see if the dog's destruction can be avoided. Judge Jo Kidd agreed, and adjourned the hearing so that an RSPCA assessment could be carried out on Fudge. Owens will return to the court on Thursday, December 15, when expert evidence will be given.
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