A piece in today’s Times:
Two dogs that attacked a pensioner have been saved from being put down because of the emotional support they provide to their owner.
Yoshi and Gizmo, which are both Staffordshire terriers, had faced being put down after they attacked Alexander Brock, 76, and left him and his pet labrador covered in blood.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis declined to order their destruction after being given reports detailing the positive impact that they have on the life of their owner, Mari Calikes, 34, of Crieff. She was found guilty of being the owner of a dangerous dog in June.
Sheriff Foulis said: “She benefits from having her dogs. They give her a sense of purpose. Having dogs has motivated her to go out the house and exercise them. There have had a positive effect on the accused’s health and have made her less socially isolated. There’s a benefit from her having the dogs, so any order banning her from controlling any animal would be counterproductive.”
The dogs will both be neutered as a condition of their reprieve.
Sentencing at Perth sheriff court was deferred yesterday.
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