Kirk minister whose dog savaged parishioner is ordered to pay damages
A CHURCH minister has been ordered to pay compensation to a parishioner who was left bleeding after being bitten by her dog.
The 75-year-old victim was delivering a food parcel at the Ullapool home of Reverend Heidi Hercus, 47, when she was attacked.
The Sarplaninac shepherd dog, Faith, left her with three or four bite marks and has since been rehomed. The Church of Scotland minister represented herself at Inverness Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
She was ordered to pay the parishioner £250 compensation after admitting a charge of having a dog that was dangerously out of control.
Fiscal depute Sharon Ralph said before the attack on January 14 at around 11am, Faith was standing behind the minister.
Mrs Ralph added: ‘All of a sudden the dog pushed its way past the accused and lunged for the witness.
‘It jumped on her and knocked her to the ground.’
The victim was bitten through three layers of clothing, the court heard.
Mrs Ralph said: ‘The skin was broken and there was blood where it had been broken.’
The woman was given a tetanus vaccine and antibiotics as a precaution.
In papers submitted to the court, the minister said her dog had been gentle to her and her family.
They had been aware Faith would need behavioural training when they got her but had been unable to access this due to Covid restrictions. She told the court: ‘She was fine with people outside but she was always protecting myself, my child and my husband.’
She added: ‘It broke our hearts to move her on.’
The court heard the woman bitten was still an active member of the congregation.
Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald said: ‘Clearly it was a distressing incident.’
After the hearing, a Church of Scotland spokesman said: ‘Rev Heidi Hercus is very sorry this happened and has apologised to the person injured.’