Dog owner given pet ban after woman injured in pitbull attack

Craig Gallagher's pet latched on to the victim's elbow and leg outside his East Dunbartonshire home in 2019.

Dog owner given pet ban after woman injured in pitbull attack SNS Group

A man who had a boxer-pitbull cross which left a woman badly hurt has been banned from keeping dogs.

Craig Gallagher’s pet latched on to the victim’s elbow and leg outside his home in Torrance, East Dunbartonshire, on December 17, 2019.

The animal was taken by police but Gallagher warned: “Just put the f***ing dog down then, I will buy a bigger more aggressive dog anyway.”

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the dog is “still at large” after an “unknown person” broke into the kennels and stole Gallagher’s dog.

The 42-year-old was back in the dock on Monday.

He had previously pled guilty to being the owner of a dog that was seriously out of control which bit the woman on the body to her injury.

Gallagher was banned from having a dog for five years by Sheriff Neil Mackinnon.

He was further fined £540 and ordered to pay the victim £250 in compensation.

The court previous heard how she was visiting an elderly client who is the neighbour of Gallagher and shares a communal garden with him.

Prosecutor Kavin Ryan-Hume said: “When opening the gate, she was unable to hear the dog.

“She then heard a bark and was immediately attacked by the dog which latched on her left elbow.

“She was unable to tell what breed of dog it was as she kept her face away from it in case it attempted to bite her face.

“She then tried to fend off the dog and it released from her elbow.

“The dog bit her left leg and ankle leaving four puncture wounds.”

She was able to kick the dog off of her before a 999 call was made.

Officers noted the victim was “in distress and started being physically sick” before being taken to hospital.

Gallagher was traced meantime and told his dog would be seized.

He then made the comment about getting a bigger dog.

Mr Ryan-Hume added: “The dog was taken to Govan police office before being put into kennels.

“On December 27, 2019, an unknown person broke into the kennels and one dog was taken, that being the dog that appeared in the charge.

“He is essentially still at large.”

The court heard Gallagher, still of Torrance, latterly owned two other dogs.

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