A dog owner from Pembroke Dock has been ordered to keep their pet muzzled and on a lead when out in public after their malamute attacked another dog and its owner.

Twenty-one-year-old Anya Legg, of Lewis Street, appeared for sentencing at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after facing a trial the previous week, where she was found guilty of being the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control and injured a male dog walker.

Miss Legg had pleaded not guilty to the offence, which occurred on July 5 in Lewis Street.

Going over the details of the case, prosecutor Abul Hussain told the court that victim had been put walking with his partner with their four dogs, when they walked by the defendant’s home address and the female malamute Jupiter ran out of the house and attacked one of the Jack Russell dog’s called Lily.

“The victim tried to intervene get the dog off his dog, and he sustained bites to his thumb and finger, with his dog bitten on the back leg and around the neck.

“He is claiming a total of £1,187 in vets bills and a loss of earnings. He said that he couldn’t bend his thumb properly after the attack and still felt tingles in his fingertips.

“Due to his injuries he claimed that it effected decorating work that he was going to undertake on a house, as he couldn’t grip a brush or climb a ladder, and therefore it effected him financially,” continued Mr. Hussain.

In a statement to police, the victim said that his dog could have died from the attack if he had not reacted, and how he had his partner have had to change their walking route for fear of it happening again.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told magistrates that Miss Legg’s partner had left the house to go out collecting a child and had left the door ajar and their dog had got out.

“It’s never been in dispute that Anya is the owner of the dog and she’s never shied away from her responsibility. She’s apologised in court and offered to pay for the vet’s bills as well.

“It’s not something that her dog Jupiter has done before and it’s never been a danger to anyone. She has a baby at home with her partner and they have never felt that the dog possess any risk to others at all.

“The incident happened so quickly - she didn’t know that the dog had bolted, as her boyfriend had thought he’d shut the door, but he hadn’t. It was a momentary lapse of attention.

“The defendant has already taken it upon herself to make sure that Jupiter no longer goes out without a muzzle, and she doesn’t walk her now until late at night, and an extra gate has been put in at the property.

“She is a responsible owner and is very, very sorry for everything that happened,” added Mr. Webb.

Miss Legg was ordered to pay compensation to the victim, £707 for the vet’s bill and £100 for the injuries sustained.

Magistrates fined her £180 for the offence and ordered her to pay prosecution costs of £300 and a £30 victim surcharge.

She was also ordered to keep the dog on muzzled in public and on a lead.