Puppy attacked by bulldog in town centre car park, court told

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy, called Stella, was pounced on by an American Bulldog, which came within one millimetre of piercing her liver during the attack as she was walked in a town centre car park by her owner Josh Langford.

The bulldog, Raphael, ran over to Stella and locked its jaws around her leg before attacking her stomach.

It was only when Raphael's owner Rafal Olszowy prised the dogs jaws open that it let go of Stella who needed life-saving surgery to repair her wounds.

Olszowy, 37, of Berriew Street, Welshpool, appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court yesterday, where he admitted being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control.

Magistrates fined him £450 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £45 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to pay Mr Langford's vets fees of £556.28 and £100 compensation to him.

In addition Olszowy's dog must be muzzled and placed on a lead whenever it is in public.

Miss Helen Tench, prosecuting, said Mr Langford was walking through Berriew Street car park in Welshpool on July 13 when the attack happened.

"Mr Langford and his partner were walking through the car park when they saw a group of men sat near the toilets," she said.

"One of them pointed and said something in Mr Langford's direction. Then a bulldog came running over and began attacking Mr Langford's 13-week old puppy Stella.

"It closed its jaws around her leg and would not let go, despite Mr Langford and his partner shouting at it.

"Eventually one of the men came over and pulled the dog's jaws open before leaving the scene without apologising."

Mr Michael Davies, for Olszowy, said: "My client is extremely sorry and he wants to personally apologise to the victim in this case."