POLICE have issued an update on their attempts to find a dangerous dog that magistrates ordered to be put down after it killed another dog and bit its owner.
Owner Dawn Housman was given a suspended jail sentence after the American Bull Terrier, named Bailey, killed a chihuahua and attacked its owner in Back Lane South on April 9, 2021.
During the 52-year-old’s sentencing at Worcester Magistrates Court the fate of the dog had been discussed with prosecutor, Melanie Winterflood, saying that, embarrassingly, the police did not know where the dog was.
In a new statement provided to this paper, West Mercia Police said the dog has still not been found.
The statement said: "Officers have carried out thorough searches to locate the dog, but to no avail.
"The owner (Housman) refused to co-operate with police around the dog's location and the dog rescue charity the pet was originally obtained from has been unable to provide a chip number that could help to identify the dog’s current whereabouts."
During the hearing of the case on July 4, Miss Winterflood had told magistrates her information was that the dog had been taken by a dog rescue charity in Scotland after the incident, and before police had the chance to seize the animal.
Magistrates were not satisfied dog was with a 'fit and proper owner'
She said she had no further information, adding the dog may even have been put down as the offence had taken place more than a year ago.
Taking legal advice, magistrates were told they had to be satisfied the dog was under the ownership of a fit and proper person and not endangering public safety to not make an order for its destruction.
After deliberation, Harry Turner, chairman of the magistrates bench, said: “Because we don’t know who the owners are we can’t be satisfied.
“Therefore we order the destruction of the dog, Bailey.”
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Magistrates heard the victim, Katie Harris, was outside in the road by a grass area with her dog, and when the dogs came together the bull terrier had initially been passive before biting the chihuahua on its belly.
“Miss Harris screams, Miss Housman tried to separate Bailey from the dog that was in distress,” the prosecutor said.
“Miss Harris put herself in the way of the dogs - unfortunately she was bitten.”
In a personal victim statement, Miss Harris said she had suffered anxiety attacks after the incident and been unable to work.
Housman, of Back Lane South, Worcester, was given an 18-week jail sentence, suspended for a year, and disqualified from owning a dog for five years.
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