Killer dog owner fined

A DOG owner whose cross boxer mastiff attacked other dogs around the area of Burbage Wharf on the Kennet & Avon Canal has been caught and fined, to the amount of £1,770.

The dog's owner William Maxwell was fined after a court heard how his boxer mastiff dog attacked and killed pensioner Pam Connolly's Cairn terrier in a vicious attack near Brimslade Lock (53) on the Kennet & Avon Canal, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Out of control

He admitted being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control in a public place when appearing before magistrates in Salisbury, and also admitted obstructing WPC Sarah Watts in the execution of her duty, by at first denying that he knew anything about the incident last July when Pam Connolly, of Wootton Rivers, was walking Daisy along the canal towpath near the lock.

He was fined £400 for the dangerous dog offence, £100 for obstructing the police officer, ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to Pam Connolly, £170 towards her vet's bill and the burial of Daisy and a court surcharge of £15, making a total of £1,770.

Pinned to the ground

The court heard that Pam Connolly was walking along the towpath with Daisy and saw Maxwell cycling towards her with a large dog not on a lead. Later, near Brimslade Lock, she saw Maxwell riding towards her again on his way back. She stepped on to the verge but Maxwell's dog attacked Daisy, pinning the terrier to the ground and biting its stomach.

Boater John Smale dashed to her aid when he heard Daisy squealing in pain and carried the dog to the nearest road, where a friend took it to Belmont House vets in Pewsey. It had three hours emergency surgery but died two days later.

Pam Connolly told that she still gets flashbacks,  and doesn't think the sight of Daisy's stomach when she picked her up will ever leave her.

The boxer mastiff is now living on a farm in Cornwall.