A Pinjarra man was fined $1000 in court on Tuesday, after his bull arab, ‘Hutch’, attacked a woman and her kelpie.
Colin Watene Stephens, 57, who did not appear in the Mandurah Magistrates Court, had entered an endorsed plea of guilty to not having Hutch on a lead and to the dog attack.
Shire of Murray representative Ron Porter told the court victim Amanda Marie Harvey had her dog, ‘Bender’, on a lead in the Murray Districts Hospital grounds, on the morning of August 11, 2018.
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Mr Porter said Hutch ran up to Bender and bit him on the back, dragging him over a log.
Ms Harvey attempted to shield her dog and was bitten on her right arm and wrist.
She started to hit Hutch with a stick and lost her grip on Bender’s lead.
Mr Porter said Stephens ran over to the dogs and yelled at Hutch, before picking up a stick to hit him.
Both dogs ran off in opposite directions.
Ms Harvey found Bender 40 minutes later on a nearby street and took him to Pinjarra Veterinary Hospital where he had multiple surgeries.
Ms Harvey was treated for superficial wounds at Murray District Hospital before being transferred to Peel Health Campus.
Mr Porter said the owners have since surrendered Hutch to a kennel, where his behaviour will be monitored to assess his suitability for re-homing.
Magistrate Anne Longden said the court had received a letter from the owner who “feels terrible” about the attack, and was willing to pay all related costs.
Mr Porter told the court the vet bills exceeded $2000, but it was hard to claim costs for the victim because she had set up a Gofund Me page, and he had not been given the cost difference owing, if any.
Stephens was fined $1000 and $205.30 costs.