A Pinjarra woman whose mastiff-cross attacked an eight-year-old child was fined $1000 in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The boy had been riding his bike on Locke Street, Pinjarra, when the dog, named Hades, bit his leg, leaving bruises and puncture wounds.
Emma Molly Stone, the dog’s owner who failed to appear in court, wrote in a letter to Magistrate Vivien Edwards saying she had not known Hades to be aggressive and was unaware it was illegal to permit a dog in a public place without a leash.
The Shire of Murray also prosecuted a number of other dog-related cases where owners failed to restrain dogs in public places, or have them microchipped and registered.
However, a number of these were adjourned because the Shire’s prosecutor failed to provide sufficient evidence that summonses had been served.
Mark Anthony Weir was fined $600 fine after pleading guilty to failing to microchip and register his dog.
Alice Louise Parker was fined $300 after rangers received complaints her dog was wandering on a verge in Waroona.
Parker said she moved to a new house to prevent her dog escaping.
One man, who stood in the visitor’s gallery but refused to enter the court, was ejected after shouting from the back of the room.
He was ordered to reappear at a later date.