Dog who bit child in Bath is saved from destruction by magistrates

A dog at risk of being put down after biting a child in the city centre has been granted a reprieve by magistrates who have allowed him to be reunited with his owner.

However, they warned Susan Jones, whose cross-breed called Bear had been kept in police kennels since the incident in April last year, that she must abide by strict conditions, including keeping him out of a city centre exclusion zone.

Jones, of Wedgwood Road in Whiteway, was in court on Wednesday 3rd September for sentencing after admitting at a previous court appearance that she had been in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control and had injured a child.

The case had been adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for a dog destruction order to be considered.

Magistrates were shown CCTV footage of the incident which happened at Seven Dials on the afternoon of 9th April 2024, and of the bite mark on the 13-year-old boy, which drew blood.

Prosecutor Sadie Waits said the boy had ridden past Bear on a scooter and the dog had bitten him on the ankle. The boy dropped his scooter and ran off, returning with his mother who confronted Jones.

The dog was then taken away and has been in police kennels ever since, running up an accommodation bill of £8,100.

Miss Waits said that Jones, who is 57, had previously received a community protection warning and notice relating to Bear and her lack of control of him, which stated that he had to be muzzled and kept on a lead in public. She said it was now considered that removal from her care was the most suitable option.

But solicitor Lisa Rowley, defending Jones, said that she had owned Bear for 10 years since he was a six-week-old puppy and had never seen him aggressive.

Miss Rowley said that the evidence presented by the prosecution was “flawed” and that the community protection warning and notice from police had been issued in relation to another dog called Bear living at Carrswood View travellers’ site in Bath.

Miss Rowley said there was no evidence against the Bear belonging to Jones, and no conviction following the orders.

She also said that a contingent destruction order issued 15 years ago in relation to another dog Jones owned was not breached.

Miss Rowley said that on the day Bear bit the boy, Jones had gone into town to buy dog food and had seen a homeless friend who she went to sit with.

Bear had been “startled” by the scooter and Jones had apologised and offered to pay for a taxi to take the boy to hospital, but the mother had “ignored” her, called the police and Bear was taken away in a police van.

Miss Rowley referenced a report from independent dog behaviour expert Michael Barnett who had assessed Bear in the police kennels and concluded he is not aggressive and could be successfully acclimatised to wearing a muzzle.

She said Jones had lived as a rough sleeper for many years and one of the barriers to her being housed was that she had a dog. However, towards the end of 2021 she had been given a Curo property.

The court heard that Jones had not returned to her flat since Bear was taken away. She was in danger of losing the property but had insisted she would only return if she got Bear back.

Jones has intensive support and a member of the multi-disciplinary team working with her spoke in court in support of her being allowed to keep Bear. He said that he had not seen evidence of Bear being aggressive, that Jones takes good care of him, and the team are happy to have him in the car when taking her to appointments.

Magistrates issued a contingent destruction order which gives Bear a reprieve provided that the conditions imposed are met. When in public, Bear must have a lead of no more than 1.6 metres held by someone over 18 and attached to a collar that has a metal buckle. He must also wear a muzzle. Bear is not allowed to enter a mapped area of the city centre except for pre-arranged vet appointments at Julian House in Manvers Street and accompanied by a social worker.

The magistrates made a community order which will see Jones tagged and under curfew for six months. She must remain at her home in Wedgwood Road between 8pm and 8am.

She was also ordered to pay £366 towards kennelling costs as well as £114 compensation to the victim.

The magistrates warned Jones that she needs to become a “really responsible dog owner”. If she does not comply with the conditions, Bear may be seized and destroyed.

“Bear is living on a knife-edge,” chair of the bench Gill Briggs warned her.