A girl whose canine left a toddler with “heart-wrenching” facial accidents after a nasty assault has overturned a council order to have the animal muzzled.
Teresa Ellinor, from Canterbury, adopted American bulldog Cleo simply weeks after it bit the 17-month-old woman in January this yr.
Ms Ellinor then acquired a letter from town council, imposing an inventory of strict circumstances about preserving the canine, together with an order that it should be muzzled in public.
But the jail officer, who claims Cleo was uncared for by her earlier proprietor, says the canine is not aggressive and the restriction is just not wanted.
The 57-year-old took her case to Folkestone Magistrates’ Court this week in a bid to have the situation eliminated.
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Acting for Canterbury City Council (CCC), Isabella Crowdy revealed particulars of the assault that had sparked the order.
“At the time, the dog was being cared for by a woman identified as ‘AW’,” she stated.
“AW and her mother were attempting to build a crate for the dog when it attacked AW’s 17-month-old niece.
“The dog bit her face, causing injuries to her face and around her eyes.”
The toddler was taken to hospital and later transferred to St George’s in London, the place she acquired stitches for the injuries and later required antibiotics after one turned contaminated.
After Ms Ellinor took possession of Cleo, the letter she acquired from CCC ordered that the canine should be walked with a harness and glued lead by a reliable grownup, should not be left unattended and will need to have third-party insurance coverage.
The council additionally instructed the grandmother to maintain Cleo muzzled whereas in public, however this she couldn’t abide.
“The muzzle is the part I’m not keen on,” she advised the court docket.
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“I just don’t want to upset Cleo, and the way that she’s being portrayed in that summons letter is not the dog that she is now – she’s amazing.”
Ms Ellinor advised magistrates that since she started caring for Cleo the animal has turn out to be a delicate and supportive canine.
“I do feel that Cleo was terribly let down by her previous owner,” she stated.
“She was starved and neglected, but she isn’t that dog anymore, she’s lovely.
“You should see how good she is with my disabled son and grandchildren.
“I’ve seen the photos of what happened to the baby, and for me as a grandmother it is heart-wrenching to see, but everything she was when she came to me was neglect – Cleo’s not aggressive now.”
Following negotiations through the listening to on Wednesday, the council agreed to amend the management order for the canine in order that it might not need to be muzzled.
Ms Ellinor stated she would comply with all different facets of the council’s directive.
Concluding proceedings, chair of the bench Janet Wood stated: “This is a lifetime order – please be very careful when the dog is around children.”
Speaking to KentOnline after the listening to, Ms Ellinor stated she was completely satisfied and relieved.
“When I left the courtroom I was so happy for Cleo,” she stated.
“All the other points on that letter I do as a matter of course, as a responsible dog owner – she’s always supervised.
“The fact that I won’t have to muzzle her will make a big difference.
“She would have been totally stressed and very upset because she’s never had to wear one, and I think it does affect the behaviour of a dog and the public’s opinion of her when they see her.
“To have that condition removed was a big win for me and for Cleo.”
