We all love the company of our four-legged friends, and most in the UK are all completely friendly.
But what happens when they become out of control or show aggressive behaviours in public?
This year in Wiltshire, there have been several cases where dog owners have been sentenced for not being able to control their dogs.
SWINDON: Lisa Little, of Oak Tree Avenue in Swindon, was sentenced because her dog was not under control.
As described by Swindon Magistrates’ Court, the German shepherd dog named Juke was dangerous and not kept under proper control and the complainant seeks an order that the dog is kept under proper control or destroyed per section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871.
Lisa was ordered to keep Juke muzzled at all times whilst in a public place and for him to be kept on a non-extendable lead of no greater length than 6ft whilst in a public place after the injury caused to another dog.
SWINDON: On 30 May last year, 19-year-old Saxone Satchell from Swindon had a dog which was “dangerously out of control” in the garden of a property in Hughes Street.
The dog, Apache, injured Amish Thushanath while it was out of control.
Satchell faced Swindon Magistrates’ Court on January 18 and was fined a total of £200.
The court also stated that going forward, Apache should be “kept under proper control by not being allowed in the back garden of a specific address on Hughes Street, Rodbourne, unattended and must be accompanied by either Miles Satchell or Holly Bolton or another responsible adult.
“Apache must be muzzled at all times when in a public place.”
Miles Satchell is also required to maintain the fencing of at a property on Hughes Street, Rodbourne and gate to a height of 6ft and be in good repair, otherwise, the dog must be destroyed.
STRATTON: Susan Smart, of Church Walk, Upper Stratton was also fined for a lack of control over her dog.
Her Akita dog, named Dexter, was also “dangerous and not kept under proper control”, with the complainant seeking an order that the dog is to be kept under proper control or destroyed.
Susan went to Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 22 April this year and was told to keep Dexter on a muzzle “at all times” whilst in a public place, and to keep him on a non-extendable lead of no greater length than 6ft whilst in a public place.
She was fined a total of £491.50.
CORSHAM: Mark John Buscombe, 43, of Lypiatt Road in Corsham, faced a court hearing on March 9 this year because his Romanian rescue dog, Boe, was out of control in the town on December 23 last year.
The dog reportedly injured a man on the same day.
Buscombe was fined a total of £635, and Swindon Magistrates’ Court said that unless the dog was kept under control by being securely held on a lead and a muzzle when in public, it must be destroyed.
The court said it was content that it was an isolated incident and that defendant was “a fit and proper person to own a dog and has taken appropriate steps to deal with the issues raised”.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article