Two dog walkers had an angry confrontation when their animals became involved at a popular beauty spot in Inverness.
One claimed it was just boisterous behaviour and her dog had simply mounted one of the other canines.
But the other shouted and swore at the woman and kicked her Labrador away from his months-old puppy of a similar size, accusing it of attempting to bite both of his pets in the neck or face.
Retired stonemason, 64 year old Alexander Allan of Maxwell Drive, Inverness, made a limited admission at Inverness Sheriff Court to his conduct but his lawyer, Liam McAllister, argued it was unpleasant but not criminal behaviour.
Allan denied a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards the woman, kicking her dog and uttering threats.
However Sheriff Robert Frazer decided devoted dog owner Allan did act criminally in his outburst, found him guilty and fined him £500.
But he told Allan: “I regard this as an isolated incident and your anger got the better of you.”
The altercation took place in the Ness Islands on February 16, 2023 just before 8am.
Court news
Crime news
Sign up to receive free email newsletters
The court heard that the woman’s dog, who she said had muzzle-type straps around his nose and under his chin, had been off the lead and was jumping in and out of the water.
She claimed that he “mounted” one of Allan's dogs who swiped it away with his foot before angrily berating her.
She said he was making threats to kill her. “He became very angry, upset and aggressive, I thought it was an over-reaction,” she said. “I tried to de-escalate it but I have no doubt that if there weren't witnesses around, he would have carried out his threats.”
The woman said she took a photograph of Allan before they both parted company and she alerted the police. “I was extremely shaken and was really scared he would come back. ” she added.
Another dog walker, a pensioner, saw some of the events and told Sheriff Robert Frazer that she could hear Allan shouting, cursing and swearing but she couldn't make out all of what was being said.
She said that the woman “remained astonishingly calm” and added: “She was saying you need to calm down. The dogs weren't fighting, it was boisterous. You expect that to happen when three dogs are off the lead.”
Allan told the court that the woman was “no angel” but admitted he shouted and swore at her.
“The dog came out of nowhere and pinned my puppy down and went for her neck,” he said. “I flicked my side-foot on her flank and her dog moved away. But then it jumped up and tried to bite the mother dog in the face.
“She tried to deny that had happened and I suppose I was not the most pleasant to her. But she really got my goat. She didn't even apologise. She turned it round as if it was my fault.
“There is no way I would have threatened to kill her. It was a heated argument.
“I didn't want to inform the police because it was her dog that would have got into trouble.”
View our fact sheet on court reporting here
