The court heard a family had to make the heartbreaking decision to put their pet to sleep after the attack
A family had to make the heart-breaking decision to have their dog put to sleep after it was savagely attacked by a Labrador. Jean and David Scott were collecting their two dogs from a pet groomers in Openshaw, Manchester in June last year when they saw a larger dog running towards them.
The Labrador, Chico, had got loose from the garden of a nearby home. The larger dog grabbed one of the Scotts' pets, a Yorkshire Terrier called Bosley, and shook him until he went limp.
Chico's owner, Callum Bridge-Banks, 32, was heard shouting at his dog to “let go.” The Scotts desperately tried to help Bosley.
But vet fees of around £10,000, added to the possibility that Bosley would not survive in any event, meant Jean and David had to make the awful decision to put the dog to sleep, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Bridge-Banks pleaded guilty to being an owner in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury, and yesterday, July 9, was jailed for a year and four months at Manchester Crown Court.
Chloe Fordham, prosecuting, had earlier described to the court how the drama unfolded on June 19, 2024. She said: “Both Mrs Scott and her husband tried to stop the attack, as did the dog groomer, by kicking and punching the dog.”
Mr Scott was left with a wound to her arm, bruising and thumb injuries. In a statement read to the court she said she had been left ‘heartbroken and devastated', adding: “I don't think I'll ever be the same again. No sentence I can make can explain how much of a wonderful dog he was.”
Mr Scott added: “When we take our dogs out we are constantly looking for other dogs. We get flashbacks of the incident.”
The court was told that in February 2023, Bridge-Banks was handed a caution after Chico attacked another dog and bit its owner.
The Labrador was not muzzled, and when police visited the defendant's home, they found there was no secure area for the pet, meaning it was able to escape.
When officers returned to arrest Bridge-Banks, they found the front gate tied with a piece of rope. The court heard he has 27 previous convictions for 65 offences.
Georgia Faulke, defending, said her client struggled with anxiety and depression and had suffered with substance abuse.
She said he would ‘not be happy' if Chico was put down and said the animal was only aggressive with other dogs because it had been attacked as a puppy.
Recorder Sarah Griffin said: “These offences demonstrate that you are an irresponsible dog owner.” Bridge-Banks, of Wycombe Avenue, was jailed for a year and four months months. He must pay £500 compensation.
Chico was ordered to be destroyed and Bridge-Banks was banned from owning dogs for five years.
