Grandmother to have German shepherd-Akita cross put down after mauling

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A grandmother has been ordered have her pet dog put down after it mauled her son’s fiancée during a family row.

Ann Mainwaring, 53, was arguing with university student Christopher and other relatives when her German shepherd-akita cross became distressed and bit Sophie Moore in the face.

The attack left Miss Moore, also a university student, with a two-inch gash on her cheek that needed surgery including eight stitches and forced her to drink through a straw.

Police investigating the incident at Mainwaring’s home in Milnrow, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, discovered the dog called Mylo had previously savaged a 10-year-old boy’s face and she had been warned to keep the animal muzzled when around people.

The dog, which was said to be ‘absolutely fine 98 per cent of the time’, has been in kennels since the attack on Miss Moore.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, shop worker Mainwaring admitted having a dangerous dog out of control and was ordered to have the animal destroyed.

She was also told to pay over £300 in compensation to Miss Moore who lost her part-time job as a result of the attack.

The attack happened on May 27 last year after the engaged couple who live in Scarborough, North Yorks, were visiting Mainwairing with a view to staying over for the weekend.

Ann Bond, prosecuting, said: ‘The defendant’s partner took the dog out for a walk and the victim had been stroking the dog on and off and nothing was unusual. But an argument arose over sleeping arrangements and the victim and her boyfriend went upstairs where the whole family were talking.

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In mitigation David Bruce said Mainwaring (pictured leaving court) would not oppose the destruction order after doing ‘a lot of soul searching’

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Miss Moore (pictured with Christopher), a university student, suffered a 4cm laceration to her cheek which required surgery including eight stitches which left her drinking through a straw

‘It seems there was a large argument going on and during that argument, the victim was petting the dog with one hand. The moment she began to speak, the dog turned and bit her on the cheek.

‘As a result of the attack she became afraid of her own dog and her depression and anxiety worsened. She didn’t feel confident going out and she had to drink through a straw.

‘Previously, on April 22, 2019, the dog had bitten a 10-year-old child in the face and the child received stitches.

‘Police had told the defendant the dog should remain muzzled when around people but she did not think it was necessary as the victim had already been to the house before. She feels bad about what happened. There was a lack of safety and control measures.’

In mitigation David Bruce said Mainwaring would not oppose the destruction order after doing ‘a lot of soul searching’.

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Sentencing Judge Maurice Greene told Mainwaring: ‘You are not in a position to look after the dog in the future. It’s really very difficult for anybody else to take the dog. Even if they could, it would not be able to be re-homed. The only order I can make is a destruction order’

‘Her personal circumstances make it extremely difficult to give this dog the day-to-day attention it needs. She had proceeded on the basis that she wanted the dog back but her circumstances have taken something of a downward turn and she split up with her partner and works shifts. 

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Mr Bruce added: ‘This is a very tragic incident for all concerned. There was one previous incident and police could have made their instructions more formal, so the defendant knew what she had to do but that was never done. 

She is a good mother and a good grandmother. She has effectively lost her son, lost her partner and now lost her dog. There is a lot of emotional turmoil here.’

Animal behaviour expert Shaun Hesmondhalgh concluded that Mylo was not an aggressive animal and behaved “excellently”.’

But citing the ‘lockdown effect’ he explained: ‘All of the rescue centres will soon be full again. Most will not take this dog because of its violent history. It will need a specialist centre, a “no-kill shelter”, and it will end up languishing in a shelter for the rest of its life.’

Sentencing Judge Maurice Greene told Mainwaring: ‘You are not in a position to look after the dog in the future. It’s really very difficult for anybody else to take the dog. Even if they could, it would not be able to be re-homed. The only order I can make is a destruction order.’

Mainwaring was also ordered to complete a 18 month community order plus 120 hours of unpaid work.

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