Paws off Paddy
Biting dog gets last chance
A death row dog who faced being put down for biting a teenager has been saved.
Court prosecutors wanted to end Paddy’s life after he sank his teeth into Lakeisha Hiley’s thigh.
But heart- broken owner Wallace Kerr launched a campaign to save his “big friendly giant” pet claiming it was a one- off.
Wallace, 66, appeared in court this week worried sick over the fate of his beloved lurcher.
But Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart stepped back from a death sentence on Tuesday and ordered Paddy be muzzled instead.
Former miner Wallace, of Oakwood Avenue, Ayr, said: “I am so relieved. It would have been devastating to lose Paddy. He was a rescue dog and he found me more than I found him. He is just a big placid daftie. I call him the big friendly giant. But it is not over yet as he is on a deferred sentence. I will obey everything the court has ordered me to do. I am so thankful to my lawyer Steven Maxwell.”
Paddy bit Lakeisha, 19, days before her Queen Margaret Academy prom in June.
He broke free from his chain and jumped over Wallace’s garden fence before attacking her.
She was rushed to Ayr hopsital with a 2cm deep wound and was in tears when she described the ordeal to the Post last year.
But the forgiving fashion student didn’t want Paddy put down - just rehomed and muzzled.
Wallace said the dog had been in a panic and phoned the police after the shock incident.
The great- grandfather set up a petition to save the two- and- half- year- old hound’s life after learning prosecutors wanted him destroyed.
Appearing in the dock he pleaded guilty to a charge of the hound being dangerously out of control, breaking free from its chain, jumping over a fence and repeatedly biting the young woman to her injury.
Sheriff MacTaggart said: “The last thing I want to do is grant an order for the destruction of this dog.”
She ordered Paddy be muzzled and not be allowed by himself in any public place including Wallace’s garden.
Sentence has been deferred for four months.
He was a rescue dog and he found me more than I found him. He is just a big placid daftie . . . Owner Wallace Kerr