Three Adelaide women stand trial accused of allowing an unregistered, unleashed American pit bull terrier to attack a pedestrian

An unregistered, unrestrained pit bull allowed to wander its owner’s front yard viciously attacked a pedestrian, “latching on” to her arm and causing “horrific” injuries, a court has heard.

Victim Tai Ho, right, leaves court with her daughter Elsha Freedman. Picture: AAP Image/Brenton Edwards

An unregistered, unrestrained pit bull allowed to wander its owner’s front yard viciously attacked a pedestrian, “latching on” to her arm and causing “horrific” injuries, a court has heard.

Krystina Athanasopoulos, her mother Vicki Athanasopoulos and grandmother Christina Pataras are standing trial in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.

Each has pleaded not guilty to multiple offences arising from an incident allegedly involving their white American pit bull terrier, Hunter, in April 2017.

They face a maximum $5000 penalty if found guilty of owning or being responsible for an unregistered, unsecured, unmuzzled, unrestrained dog that attacked a person.

Opening the trial on Thursday, David Billington, for West Torrens Council, said Hunter was allowed to wander at large in the front yard of a house on Whelan Ave, Camden Park.

He said interpreter Tai Ho was walking along Whelan Ave, toward the Penong Ave intersection, at the time.

“The dog ran out, attacked her left arm and dragged her to the ground … her injuries were, frankly, horrific,” he said.

“Her ability to return to work was limited and she was unable to drive for six months.”

Mr Billington said the house from which Hunter attacked had neither a fence nor a gate, and that the dog had no collar nor registration disc.

He said Facebook posts would be tendered in which Krystina Athanasopoulos referred to Hunter as “my dog” and “my little man”.

Krystina Athanasopoulos leaves court with Christina Pataras and Vicki Athanasopoulos. Picture: AAP Image/Brenton Edwards

The court also heard she called West Torrens Council after Hunter was seized, claiming officers had taken “the wrong dog” and that Hunter was in the outback with her ex-partner.

Giving evidence, Ms Ho said she was “not even in front of the house” and still 4m to 5m away from the front yard when the dog attacked.

“I saw that dog, its back was facing me … it turned its head and made two small barks,” she said.

“Before I realised anything it latched onto me, latched onto my left arm, and brought me down.

“I was in shock, I kept yelling, screaming and praying for help … it was so sudden … it was so painful that I didn’t feel anything (else).”

Ms Ho said Vicki Athanasopoulos, Christina Pataras and a man came outside, and that the dog ceased its attack when the man made a hand gesture and “a noise with his mouth”.

Ms Ho said the family denied owning the dog, claiming it belonged “to a neighbour”.

She said they also claimed she had been attacked by a “spotted” dog, to which she replied “no, it was a white pit bull”.

“There was lots of blood, just running down (my arm)... it was a mix of tissue and blood,” she said.

“I had been bitten on my upper arm, elbow and wrist... my skin was all gone... I could see the tendon, a white tendon, in my wrist.”

She said the family were slow to react to the incident.

“Most people’s reaction when there is a dog attack is to call an ambulance - I had to ask, many times, ‘call me an ambulance,” she said.

“I kept saying ‘call me an ambulance, I don’t want to get amputated’.”

Ms Ho said Vicki Athanasopoulos called for an ambulance and wrapped her arm in a tea towel before contacting her daughter, Elsha Freedman.

She said she had been left to face a long and painful recovery and was “housebound” because she feared going outside and being attacked again.

“If there is any dog in the distance, I freeze,” she said.

“The shock of being attacked, I don’t think it will go away.”

The trial, before Magistrate Elizabeth Sheppard, continues.

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