Dangerous dog condemned to death by court

A DOG was condemned to death at Gorey District Court last week after Judge Gerard Haughton made an order for its destruction.

Dolly the nine-year-old boxer cross was owned by Glen Casey of 52 Eire Street, Gorey, who appeared in court to face the charges taken by Wexford County Council of having a dangerous dog. It was heard that the dog had gotten loose and attacked two other dogs on January 31 last.

Solicitor for Wexford County Council Catriona Walsh first called Sadie Finn to give evidence.

Ms Finn told the court that on January 31 she was walking her Westie at Allenwood Drive when the dog in question came and attacked her dog, attempting to pull the coat she had on it off. A neighbour, Caroline Travers, had to kick the dog and pull it by the tail in order to get it off Ms Finn’s dog. Ms Finn and Ms Travers both gave evidence that they had never seen the dog before and that Dolly made no attempt to attack them, but only had eyes for the other dog.

Ms Finn said that she had to bring her dog to the vet afterwards for treatment to a nick on its belly.

A similar incident took place later that day at Hunter’s Green and Teresa Kavanagh was called to give evidence. Ms Kavanagh said that she was walking her dogs when Dolly again attacked one of them, pulling hair off him and leaving a patch of marked skin. Again, she said that she had never seen the dog before and added ‘I feel sorry for the man who owns the dog. I just thought the best thing to do was to come to court and tell the truth.’

Upon hearing the Council’s case, Mr Casey’s barrister called him to the stand. He told the court how he had rescued the dog nine years ago and never had an issue with her before.

He said that Dolly was in no way dangerous and even got on great with his young nephew. Mr Casey said that while he is away at work during the day, the dog was kept on a long chain in the garden of his home which is surrounded by a large fence and seven foot walls. He said that the dog had never escaped before and that excavation work going on next door must have upset the dog leading her to break her chain and somehow escape. ‘I’d just like my dog home,’ said Mr Casey. ‘She’s old now and she probably won’t last too much longer anyway.’

‘This is clearly not an application that the council wishes to make,’ said Ms Walsh.

Mr Casey’s barrister said that while he did not wish to belittle the frightening experience endured by the witnesses, this was not the most vicious attack. A photo of the dog was then handed to Judge Haughton.

‘The order I have to make, reluctantly because it is a beautiful dog, is for destruction,’ he said.

Mr Casey’s barrister then asked if there were any conditions that his client could undertake to save the dog.

‘I’m not prepared to deviate from the correct order,’ said Judge Haughton. ‘Nobody wants to see this order made. The difficulty I have is that the dog was chained behind seven foot walls and still escaped. While she didn’t attack the witnesses, she did engage in two fairly fierce attacks on other dogs. If she got out again, this could happen again.’