Laois dog owner ordered to pay €2,000 after Boxer dogs lunged at a family's pet
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A WOMAN out walking a small dog was terrified when two Boxer dogs suddenly ran out of a gateway and lunged at her pet.
Portlaoise District Court heard that the woman suffered scratches to her arms from the dogs’ nails, after she picked up her pet Shih Tzu and desperately tried to protect it.
In court last Thursday, Aishling Brennan, Killaois House, Clontyglass, Portlaoise pleaded guilty to failure to keep dogs under control, as a result of the incident on 20 October 2023.
Her solicitor said the dogs managed to escape despite sensor-activated secure gates, which were subsequently improved to ensure that such an incident did not happen again.
Sgt JJ Kirby said gardaí received a report on 21 October about a dog attack at 1.30pm the previous day.
According to the report, a woman was walking her Shih Tzu when it was ‘bitten’ by two Boxer dogs. The woman sustained minor injuries while trying to protect her pet.
The sergeant said the incident happened outside Ms Brennan’s house and she came outside to help the woman and drove her home. She also paid for veterinary care for the Shih Tzu.
Sgt Kirby said the injured party was not in court but, according to a report, she suffered scratches to her arms while trying to protect her dog.
In a cautioned statement to gardaí, Ms Brennan apologised and said that she did not see the incident.
She had no previous convictions and had valid dog licences for both dogs.
Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick explained that her client’s house has sensor-activated secure gates. On the day of the incident, the dogs ran out into the garden when someone called to the property.
The solicitor said it was “highly unusual” that the sensor was activated and one of the gates opened.
The woman who was out walking her dog was passing by the property when the left-hand gate opened.
Unfortunately, the Boxers’ attention was drawn to the small dog and they ran outside the gates.
Ms Fitzpatrick said that, when the other woman saw the two dogs approach, she picked up her own dog and held it in her arms, while the Boxers were jumping up and clawing out at the Shih Tzu.
As a result, the woman sustained minor injuries to her arms, while her little dog had superficial injuries.
The solicitor said that Ms Brennan was not aware that her dogs had escaped, but she came out immediately when she heard barking.
Since then, she had the gate sensor elevated so that such an unfortunate incident would not happen again. She also paid for the Shih Tzu’s veterinary treatment.
Ms Fitzpatrick told the court that, according to a report, the Shih Tzu was ‘playful, bright and eating well’ three days after the incident.
The dog warden called to the defendant’s property and was satisfied that the dogs were microchipped and licensed.
The solicitor said: “Ms Brennan did not anticipate that her dogs would ever be outside and she also got a fright that day. She absolutely accepts that it was very frightening for the injured party."
She added: “This is not a lady who does not take her responsibilities as a dog owner seriously. It is the polar opposite and she has taken steps to ensure that this does not happen again.
"She is far from proud for causing difficulties for the woman and her dog and she has brought €1,000 to court as a token of her remorse.”
Judge Andrew Cody said he would strike out the charge if Ms Brennan paid €1,000 to the injured party and €1,000 to the Laois Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LSPCA).
The charge was struck out that afternoon, after the defendant handed in €2,000.
