Christina O'Driscoll, 29, described her relief after a jury acquitted her of an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act, sparing her dog Bud from a destruction order. The boxer-pitbull cross had bitten a neighbour in the common close of her flat in Viewfield Road, Coatbridge, on September 5 last year.
Jury Deliberation
The jury took just 10 minutes to reach a not guilty verdict. Had Christina been convicted, a destruction order would have been passed on Bud.
The court heard that the victim underwent surgery after being bitten on the face and neck. She gave evidence through a Russian interpreter and described a "river of blood" after the attack. She denied acting aggressively and said she has been left with scars, numbness, and breathing difficulties.
Self-Defence Claim
Christina claimed her neighbour had tried to break down her door. She told the court: "Twenty minutes later she was back at my flat, screaming, shouting, banging and kicking the door. She was trying to break in. The door was coming in on me and I opened it."
A video filmed on Christina's phone showed the woman striking her as she answered a knock at the door. Christina said: "I tried to get my phone to film her again but her partner stopped me by pinning me against the wall. That's when the dog bit her. I couldn't prevent it."
She added: "As soon as they backed off I shut the door and phoned the police. I was extremely distressed."
Dog's History
The court heard that a council dog warden had spoken to Christina two months before the attack after Bud chewed a tyre on a child's bike. Christina told her lawyer Mark Lutton: "I had adopted Bud about a year before this. He was a good dog and there were never any issues with people."
Christina claimed the female victim had been reported previously for anti-social behaviour. She said: "I spoke to the police in regard to her on numerous occasions as did other neighbours." A neighbour who supported Christina added: "[The victim] caused trouble for everyone in the block."
Dog's Fate
Bud was taken from Christina after the attack and held in kennels pending the trial. She said: "It's a relief that he won't be put down but I don't know if I'll get him back. I'm not happy that I've had to go through this after being attacked in my own home whereas [the victim] hasn't been held accountable for anything she did."
