Owner jailed after dog attack

Mike Keegan

August 04, 2009

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DESTROYED: Del Boy

A DOG owner has been jailed after his Staffordshire Bull Terrier mauled a 12-year-old boy.

Daniel Keary needed plastic surgery after he was attacked while playing with friends in Peel Hall Park, Wythenshawe.

Steven Anderson, 27, owner of the dog Del Boy, was jailed for a month by Manchester magistrates after he admitted having a dog dangerously out of control. The dog has been put down.

Daniel's mum Diane welcomed the sentence. She said: "It could have been a lot worse. It could have bitten his face off or killed him. If you're that irresponsible then you don't deserve to have a dog."

During the attack the dog leapt on Daniel’s back and bit him several times, leaving him with serious arm and thigh wounds.

Daniel, from Peel Hall, still suffers nightmares four months after the attack.

Nightmares

He said: “I just heard this growling from behind me and then it was on me. I booted it to try and get it off me but it wouldn’t stop and kept going for me.

“I didn’t really feel any pain until I looked at my hand and realised I was bleeding. I suppose I was in shock. The owner began to beat it and told me it wouldn’t have gone for me if I hadn’t moved.”

Daniel says the attack has left him wary when out with his pals.

He said: “It’s not stopped me going out but I do get a bit frightened when I see big dogs off their lead.”

Anderson and his partner Victoria Hinson, 21 – both of Lomand Road, Peel Hall – pleaded guilty to having a dog dangerously out of control after the April attack.

Banned

Hinson was given a two-year conditional discharge and the pair were ordered to pay £300 compensation to the boy. They were both banned from keeping dogs for 10 years.

Anderson was given a further two weeks in prison for stealing a lawn mower.

Prosecutor Matthew Siddall said the attack only ended after Anderson repeatedly kicked the animal and battered it with its lead.

“Daniel will be permanently scarred and he spent two days on an antibiotic drip – and was off school for a month,” he added.

Liz Ridgeway, defending, said Del Boy had never previously bitten anybody or shown aggression.

“They had taken the dog for a play in the park and were horrified at what happened,” said Mrs Ridgeway.

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Pippa, Manchester (04/08/2009 at 07:26)

Yet again I say that the dog licence should be brought back and at such a cost (£100 pa or above) that it would serve 2 purposes - make people really think about the responsibilities of owning a dog and also to fund the cost of administering/policing said licence. To obtain a licence for a dog ( I envisage a licence per animal) the prospective owner would sign to say that the dog would attend a recognized training course (there are plenty about), and that if not already, it would be neutered and also that it would be properly looked after etc etc. Breeders should have to have a separate licence and also sell puppies that are not to be bred from, already neutered. Although I appreciate that this will not totally eradicate neglectful owners, animal cruelty and dangerous dogs, I feel sure that it would go a long way in helping.

Terrible story.

7501 , Manchester (04/08/2009 at 07:56)

Typically scum bags never have a poodle as a pet.And they allow their dogs to terrorise the community unless they have kids to do so as well.

Al Capone of Atherton, Atherton (04/08/2009 at 07:58)

Couldn't they just have jailed the dog for a spell and destroyed the owner?

J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock, King of Peasmouldia (04/08/2009 at 08:18)

£300 compensation and a month in jail for ruining a boys life. The pair of them should be thrown to the dogs, and ALL dog owners should by law be made to purchase third party liability insurance against theoir 'pet' causing injury so that more reasonable compensation settlements can be made. I say all dogs owners because even those little yappy rats that rich old ladies keep in their armpits have got teeth.

sparkie, Salford (04/08/2009 at 08:20)

A dog licience would do nothing to deter the likes of these individuals. A responsible owner of any kind of dog would not have allowed this animal to be off a lead or without a musle, for the animals sake as well as for other peoples. Its just a shame that it is always the dogs that suffer.

7501 , Manchester (04/08/2009 at 08:30)

Pippa, good intentions but scum have cars and even guns without licences. Do you think they would pay for a dog licence?

dessie, manchester (04/08/2009 at 08:32)

you see this regular on fields and paths jug ear thugs with a staffordshire or such like with a big harness on them, it must be a chav thing, and i see it every day these dogs being let off the lead.
the owners need putting down not the dogs!!!

dog hardy, manchester (04/08/2009 at 08:56)

Typical of are law makers to ignore the majority who i would think would want all dog owners to buy a licence,minumum £100 and to wear a muzzle out in public.The dog would get used to it.Too late when a child is scarred either physically or mentally

chris hawley, , Sao Paulo, Brasil (04/08/2009 at 09:00)

Good ideas from J Peasmond. How about the owners not only going to jail for 6 months minimum, but also 10 years community service and a fibe of 300pounds per month to be paid until the boy reaches 18, by which time he should have recovered mentally. A tough punishment acts as a deterrent, as opposed to the wishy washy laws and punishments in effect for drunk drivers, pit bull owners, thugs and rapists. People buy dogs like this to feel tough and frighten people. The punishment has to meet the intent.

Maxie Fergie (04/08/2009 at 09:13)

All dogs should have their teeth removed or have a pemanent gumshield installed.

The worst they could do then is give someone a nasty suck.

Acid, Chadderton (04/08/2009 at 09:27)

Contrary to what one of the posters says, people do NOT always have these dogs to frighten people. They buy them because they like the breed. Unfortunately, as has been said umpteen times, the thugs and idiots like to own powerful dogs too. With regards to bringing back dog licences, shouldn't you have a licence for having a drunkard/druggie/bad driver (the list is endless) in the house? They cause a lot more damage and injuries than dogs, and more often too!!

Splurge (04/08/2009 at 10:00)

Please dont anyone label the Staffordshire Bull Terrier as a dangerous dog. Yes they look mean and fierce but so would a golden retriever if you didnt train it properly or you mistreat it. The scumbags like them because of their image but Staffie's are the best dog for family pets if treated well, trained and not abused.

Ask the Kennel Club - out of 180 odd dog breeds they only recommend two for families with children and the Staffie is one of them. Personally, I have German Shepherds and mine are great placid dogs but the KC dont recommend them as a family dog so its about owners and responsibility.

chillbill, oldham (04/08/2009 at 10:01)

Well if dog licences were brought back and anyone with a dog caught with out a licence say jail for a month - or huge fine and huge amounts of community service.

Anthony Browne (04/08/2009 at 10:42)

All dogs are basically wolves......all should be put down....

Zimmerman, manchester (04/08/2009 at 10:47)

One again our useless laws yet again this man should have been locked up for at least three months to send the message out that these dogowners will not be tolorated.And we need the licencing back and the licence fee should be variable for the size of the breed £1000 a year for large breeds and £10 a year for the smaller breeds,And all large dogs outside where the public are should be muzzled and all dogs should be on a lead.

chillbill, oldham (04/08/2009 at 11:00)

Blimey Antony Browne -ALL dogs are WOLFS bit strong, So your common or garden Sausage dog is a wolf is it?

Dont you think it could be the owners that are at fault in these cases of dog attacks for failing to train and control their dogs.

Citizen of the Peoples Republic Of Mancunia, Manchester (04/08/2009 at 11:09)

If "All dogs are basically wolves" then on the same scale all humans are basically monkeys, some more than others!

In this case the owners deserve putting down more than the poor dog. A bad dog is a very rare thing. In most cases the owners are to blame.

Over the years I have owned Alsatians, Dobermans, a Great Dane, a Labradore and a Red Setter and have never had an issue with any (aside from the time our Doberman got a mouthfull of a guy trying to break into out house with a crow bar, he he!)

Most people are clueless when it comes to dog training and care. A licence is the only way forward from this point!

Squeally, Bolton (04/08/2009 at 11:13)

Like how the owner blamed the boy - it wouldn't have gone for you if you hadnt moved???? What is he supposed to do when at the park with friends?

Zimmerman, manchester (04/08/2009 at 11:29)

"Del Boy had never previously bitten anybody or shown aggression." How many times do we have to hear this,ive heard this so many times over the years and so many people have been hurt or killed.It about time the law does what it should do. PROTECT THE PUBLIC,With laws that people comply to not laws that people laugh at.

Angie33 , Manchester (04/08/2009 at 11:31)

I phoned the dog wardens recently re 3 dogs in communal garden.2 were stuck together,which of course was delightful to watch.I was asked 'Are they strays?'I answered yes to this,as to me anything not attatched to an owner is a stray.Next-'Ohhh right then.I cant ask you to take them in then as there ar 3 of them?OK.We'll send someone round in next 24hrs.'It seems that they collect stray dogs from you if you take them in.People have always done that and taken them to police station or dogs home without any dog wardens.So what exactly do dog wardens do.With this problem its first things first.Dogs should never be off leads in public places,unless they are given an area where it is allowed and others can then avoid it.During school holidays in the summer dogs could be banned from public parks altogether 9-5 so people can take children without fear of them being attacked.Or children could even be allowed to go to parks on their own without this constant danger.You,d expect responsible dog owners would lead the way in this ,but on any forum Ive ever been on they are in as much denial about the problem of dogs these days as any of the lunatics who train these dogs to be aggressive rather than sociable.This is every parents worst nightmare.When you take a child to the park and have to visualize how you may protect them if an attack happens?Could,would you take on one of these dogs if it attacked your child?How would you do it?We are living in a time when people are walking around with weapons to protect themselves.This is one situation where for the first time I feel the need to carry a weapon for a visit to the park,just in case.Because of this I no longer go or take the children.

Zimmerman, manchester (04/08/2009 at 11:40)

All Dogs have a common ancestors (wolves) even your sausage dog have these.So therefore they can snap and hurt people,But size is relevent get a big dog on you and it will kill you but get a yorkie to attack you and you can fight it off ,so the size of the matters.that is why we need a variable dog licence fee,starting at around £10 working up to a thousand.for those idiots who want to have these killer breeds like pitbull type of animals,then if they want to walk these large dogs in public they also have to muzzle them or imediat put down.

Calamity (04/08/2009 at 12:24)

You can just imagine the type of people the owners of the dog are, thick as too short planks! Probably druggies too!

Zimmerman, manchester (04/08/2009 at 12:33)

Calamity,Ask most phychiatrist what type of people have dogs of certain breeds and you would be shocked.On average the owners of these larger staffs are around the age of 15/30 years of age and wears a hoody and smokes dope everyday and thinks they look the part when they walk around with their dog with brasswork on its harness.

Prestwich Red, Prestwich (04/08/2009 at 12:34)

Don't wait for the next incident. Destroy these dogs now!

to the point, bury (04/08/2009 at 12:39)

How many children are killed and maimed by our ‘responsible’ motorist?
Ferrell youths with knives?
And sorry to add, at the hands of so called parents.

Humans do more killing and maiming then all the animals on the plane put together.

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