Pets attacked in grounds of 19th century mansion
● Businessman banned from owning dogs after animals savaged
A businessman who allowed his mastiff to roam the grounds of a historic 19th century mansion and attack two of his neighbour’s pets has been banned from owning dogs.
Kevin Martin owned the large Turkish Kangal dog when it savaged a retriever and a terrier in the grounds of Whittingehame House in East Lothian.
The Kangal – originally bred to protect livestock from wolves, bears and jackals – attacked both dogs by pinning them to the ground and biting them to the neck while out on walks with their owners. Martin, 48, had been served with a dog control notice following a series of complaints from several worried residents of the mansion’s exclusive £1.5 million apartments in 2018.
But he continued to allow the guard dog, named Mia, out on its own to patrol the stunning grounds before the out-ofcontrol animal then went on to carry out the attacks on his neighbour’s pets.
Martin, who runs a social enterprise for disadvantaged children, denied being the owner of the dog and to breaching the control notice and stood trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on several dates last year.
The court was told Martin had been served with the dog notice on 5 September, 2018 after numerous complaints from Whittingehame residents about the Kangal being allowed out on its own,
Data company CEO Michael Gilmartin said that Martin’s Kangal lunged at his dog as his wife took the family pet for a walk at the estate near Haddington, East Lothian, in September 2018.
Mr Gilmartin, 54, told the court the dog “appeared out of the darkness and attacked our dog” before it ran off towards Martin’s home.
Professor Edward Clutton, an Edinburgh University researcher, said his retriever named Alan was also attacked by Martin’s dog.
Mr Clutton, 63, added that he would avoid Martin’s residence due previous incidents but on one occasion the Kangal “appeared from nowhere” and attacked his pet.
Sheriff O’grady said the dog had “caused considerable fear and annoyance” to the residents of Whittingehame and he “believed it was appropriate” Martin should be banned from owning dogs for the next three years.
The sheriff also fined Martin £200 and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Martin was also found guilty of assaulting sheriff officer Alexander Horne.