Woman fined $650 for ‘completely unprovoked’ dog attack
An Orana woman whose dog mauled a Maltese Shih Tzu and its elderly owner after escaping from its yard has been fined.
Melody Anne Alexander, 44, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on Wednesday on one charge of dog not held or tethered in certain public places, and two charges of dog attack or chase causing physical injury.
She pleaded guilty to all three charges.
Representing the City of Albany, Carl Fjastad told the court that between 4.30pm and 5.45pm on January 18 Alexander’s two dogs escaped from a backyard via an open gate.
The two unleashed dogs, American Staffordshire terriers, approached the victim, a 78-year-old woman undergoing chemotherapy, who was walking her dog Misty along McKail Street.
The victim picked up Misty and told the dogs to get away from her.
One of the dogs backed up but the other, Maddy, jumped on the victim, pulling Misty out of her arms and mauling the Shih Tzu around the neck, torso, and backside.
Maddy also mauled the owner around the wrist after she attempted to save Misty from the attack.
Two passers-by saw the attack and tried to pull Maddy off the victim and her dog, and then chased Maddy back into her home through an open side gate.
Misty was taken to a vet for treatment of her injuries, and her owner received treatment at Albany Health Campus.
Following the attack, the victim went to Alexander’s home, who then apologised and gave a handwritten note of apology to the victim.
Alexander was made to pay $2927 in vet bills plus a $132 pound fee and costs of $171.70.
Alexander, who represented herself in court, made an application for a spent conviction that was opposed by Mr Fjastad who said the information is relevant if she moves to a different local government area in future.
Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said that she “appreciated” Alexander’s acknowledgement that her two dogs escaped into the street, and noted the efforts Alexander is undertaking to secure her yard.
Ms O’Donnell said the attack on the elderly woman and Misty was “completely unprovoked”.
Alexander was ordered to pay reparations and was given a global fine of $650.
Her application for a spent conviction was denied.
An order for dog training was not made due to Alexander already engaging a trainer.
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