Mt Eliza woman’s Jack Russell terrier euthanised after biting boy’s face
An elderly Mt Eliza woman whose beloved Jack Russell terrier bit an eight-year-old boy on the face has faced court, where it was revealed a rabbit fur scarf may have played a part in the attack.
South East
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A dog has been put down after it bit a child’s face because it may have mistaken a rabbit fur scarf for another animal.
In a sad case heard at Dromana Magistrates’ Court yesterday it was revealed an item of clothing worn by the kid’s mum may have been the catalyst for the Jack Russell terrier’s attack.
The eight-year-old boy suffered cuts and bruises, but was not permanently injured.
The dog’s owner, Jennifer Fullard, 82, pleaded guilty to one Mornington Peninsula Shire by-law charge of dog attack causing serious injury.
The court heard a woman and her child went to Fullard’s Mt Eliza home to ask about a house-sitting position about 5.30pm on July 2.
As their conversation was finishing, the boy — who had been kneeling on the floor — stood up to leave with his mum.
It is believed that, as the mother bent down to help her son to stand, the fur scarf ended up near the child’s head.
The terrier attacked the boy’s face, biting him before the two adults managed to get the dog away.
The boy was taken to a nearby medical centre to be treated for two lacerations to his face and bruises and scratches to his arm.
Fullard was co-operative and very remorseful when interviewed later by Mornington Peninsular Shire rangers.
Her defence lawyer told the court Fullard had never been in trouble with the law and was extremely distressed and shaken by the incident.
She said the attack by the eight-and-a-half-year-old terrier, a much-loved family pet, was totally out of character.
The Jack Russell was a much-loved family pet but was put down the next day because Fullard was concerned he might bite one of her grandchildren, the lawyer said.
She told the court it was not known for sure why the dog attacked, but he may have been agitated by the rabbit fur item being worn by the mother.
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Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge told Fullard that it was a sad situation that she could never have anticipated.
“You had no reason to believe the dog was dangerous, it was not a savage dog,” he said.
“Then the dog does something completely unforeseen and unpredictable.”
Fullard was placed on a six-month good behaviour bond, with no conviction recorded. She was ordered to pay council costs of $127.40.