Lancaster City Council is warning dog owners to take heed of dog control notices after a local woman was fined for allowing her dog to attack one of the council’s dog wardens in Morecambe’s Regent Park.
Zoe Pickles of Cedar Street, Morecambe, pleaded guilty to a dangerous dog offence, having a dog in a public place without identification, and for having her dog off its lead in a designated dogs on lead area.
Ms Pickles appeared before Magistrates in Lancaster last week and was fined £150 and ordered to pay £100 towards the council’s costs, and £75 by way of compensation to Liz Akister, the council’s dog warden.
She was also ordered to keep her dog, a Staffordshire bull terrier, on a lead and muzzled at all times when in a public place.
Ms Akister received injuries in October, when she approached the dog’s owner to inform her that the dog must be kept on a lead. The dog jumped up and ran aggressively at Ms Akister, biting the underside of her right arm.
Ms Pickles told Ms Akister that the dog doesn’t like people approaching her, and that she didn’t think it needed to be on a lead, even though she had seen the signs saying dogs must be kept on a lead. She had been sitting on a bench next to the children’s play area at the time of the attack.
“We hope that this sends out a strong message to dog owners,” commented Lancaster City Council Environmental Health Officer, Sue Clowes.
“Failing to control your dog or keep it on a lead in designated places, particularly if it is known to be aggressive, is not only a serious offence that can lead to an expensive fine, but can also result in injury to other people.”