Dog allowed to live despite three attacks

A“dangerously out of control” dog that bit three people will not be put down after a court was told the Alsatian had undergone a “remarkable” transformation.

Daniel Murray’s pet Zack attacked three people in three days – and lunged at a police officer and child in Aberdeen city centre.

In such cases courts often issue a destruction order and the dog is humanely destroyed. But the sheriff decided Zack was no longer a threat after being rehomed.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told Murray, 43, had allowed the dog to go wild after his mother’s death.

On April 29 2019, on the grounds of Cornhill Hospital, Zack approached a woman and bit her. She was not injured.

The next day, at the same place, he bit another woman, injuring her.

And on July 1 Murray and Zack were in George Street and a man was bitten and injured.

On all occasions Zack was off the lead and unmuzzled.

Several weeks later, on July 31, Zack barked and lunged at both a child and a police officer.

Defence solicitor Ian Hingston said his client had been battling crack addiction at the time and has turned his life around.

“But I think where we need to start is in relation to Zack himself and the order that the court may consider making today.

“We have this aggravated offence and the court will make a destruction order unless certain things happen.

“The question is whether or not Zack constitutes a danger to public safety.”

Mr Hingston said the dog had been assessed by an expert who reported it was “clear as day” it no longer posed any danger.

He described the report into Zack’s transformation since 2019 as “quite remarkable”, adding that “this is a dog that has caused nobody any bother over the last two years”.

Sheriff Margaret Hodge told Murray: “I have to take into account whether you are a fit and proper person to be in charge of a dog.

“I take into account that you have managed to overcome various personal problems but what I’m going to today is I’m going to exercise my discretion not to order the destruction of the dog on the basis that he is transferred into the hands of a third party.”

She disqualified Murray, of Urquhart Road, Aberdeen, from owning a dog for three years and made him subject to a oneyear community payback order.

HIGH RISK: Alsatians have a reputation for becoming violent if not properly trained.

Daniel Murray.