Woman fell in river as Rottweiler seized terrier

A WOMAN was dragged into a fastflowing river as she fought to protect her pet dog from a Rottweiler.

Margaret Cloner and her friend William Anderson were walking their two dogs on leads in Loggerheads Country Park when two Rottweilers ran towards them.

One of the dogs went for Ms Cloner’s Yorkshire terrier-cross Molly. As Ms Cloner tried to pick her up, they fell down the embankment and into the river Alyn. Dolly was limp, and needed veterinary treatment costing £350.

At Llandudno Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Bowzer’s owner, James Prince, appeared before magistrates and was banned from keeping dogs for five years.

Prince and his father had been with their dogs at some distance and the dogs were not on leads.

The court heard from district judge Gwyn Jones that Bowzer was out of control and the dog would have been a threat.

Prosecutor James Neary told the court that Prince, 26, was heard to say: “You should not have tried to pick the dog up. That’s what we do when we are baiting.”

But under police interview Prince, of Coast Road in Rhyl, had denied ever saying anything about baiting and suggested Ms Cloner might have tripped over her lead.

His defence solicitor Deborah Davies said: “He accepts that all dogs should be kept on leads in public places and is devastated.”

Prince, who pleaded guilty to owning a dog dangerously out of control, was ordered to carry out 170 hours of unpaid work and to pay Ms Cloner and Mr Anderson £200 each in compensation.

He must also pay the vet’s fees of £350, costs of £85 and an £85 surcharge. Bowzer had to be put down.