Disgust over fate of Donkey Killer dog
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
THERE was widespread outrage in Ballyclare when it was revealed that a dog which mauled a popular donkey had escaped being put down and has been used for breeding.
At last weeks meeting of the Environmental Health committee Councillors reacted with outrage and questioned the reasons why this dog is still breeding.
A breeder has taken ownership of the dog in Larne, Councillors raised concerns that the dog will pass on it's violent nature to it's offspring. A statement from the council said that they did ask the Court for a destruction order for the dog but the Magistrate did not make one. The donkey owner did not wish the dog to be destroyed.
From the date of the attack the dog was voluntarily given to the family friend in Larne to look after. This family friend is now the dog's owner. The family friend breeds English Bull Terriers and is registered with Larne Borough Council.
Isabelle the donkey died after the savage attack in May of this year. The town were deeply saddened by the traumatic death of the popular donkey.
In October Mr Kenneth Morrow was fined £500 and ordered to pay legal fees of £110 and compensation of £1240 to the owner of the donkey.
During last week's meeting, Alderman Nigel Hamilton, former Mayor for the Borough spoke out at the decision not to have the dog put down after it was identified in the attack of a defenceless donkey on the Rashee Road on the 1st May 2008.
“The decision to permit the dog to be kept by a breeder in Larne is ridiculous. Had the dog caused sheep worrying it would have been put down if it escaped the farmer's shotgun. Under the Dogs (NI) Order Article 33(1b) 1983 a fine of £500 and a paltry figure of £1240 make a laughing stalk out of the judicial system.
“What is worse is that the council officer cannot confirm if the owner of the dog a Mr. K Morrow from 190 Rashee Road had the dog licensed. Thinking it is licensed and having it licensed are two totally different things and have a direct bearing on the sentence.
“I have received evidence that the dog may not in fact have been licensed, in which case the ban of 5 years preventing Mr. Morrow from owning a dog is meaningless. In Northern Ireland the process of licensing is done on a council by council basis and does not allow for regional records to be passed from council to council as a matter of form.
“I am very concerned that should Mr. Morrow for example wish to acquire a dog and reside in a neighbouring borough he could do so unless it was discovered that he had already been banned in Newtownabbey.
“It is important that that loop holes like this are addressed as soon as possible and I will be writing to Minister for the Environment Alderman Sammy Wilson MPMLA to raise the issue with him. There needs to be legislation in place to ensure that we have a joined-up policy which councils and the judiciary can apply and remove loop holes like this."
