Owner Graham Carew had to wrestle the animal to halt the attack – but a court has ruled against ordering the destruction of bulldog Bella
A JOGGER and his dog were attacked by an American Bulldog while out on a run in St Mellons.
Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard how the bulldog’s owner, Graham Carew, 36, lost control of Bella after she slipped through her collar and ran towards victim Ben Gast and his dog.
Bella broke free as the pair were running outside Carew’s home in Harrison Drive at around 9.45pm on October 27 last year.
Prosecutor Radha Baan described how Mr Gast was initially forced to run in the road to avoid the bulldog before the pair were chased and eventually attacked.
Bella firstly went for Mr Gast’s dog, biting it on the throat, before injuring the runner as he tried to step in.
Mr Gast suffered bite marks to his right hand before Carew managed to intervene and pull Bella away, leaving Mr Gast’s dog with minor injuries.
According to Ms Baan, the 45-second ordeal has had a long-term impact on the victim with Mr Gast not returning to the road since the incident.
Duty solicitor Stephen Jones told the court how his client had to lie on Bella and shake her several times in order to release the trapped pooch.
Mr Jones described how Carew has apparently had Bella for eight years, since she was a puppy, and had not had any issues with other dogs in the past.
Carew entered a guilty plea to the offence of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury.
He also reassured the bench of the steps he has taken since the incident to prevent similar behaviour.
“I walk her in a muzzle and harness and keep her on the lead. I also only take her out late at night when it’s quieter and no-one’s about,” the father-of-one said.
Chair of the bench, Colin Hill, was satisfied by the steps taken by the defendant since the attack and spared having to have Bella put down through a destruction order – on the condition that Carew keeps these steps in place permanently.
The owner of the white bulldog was ordered to pay Mr Gast £150 compensation. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay a £32 surcharge plus £85 costs.
