Mum ordered to pay £500 compensation after dog mauled young daughter

A mum has been ordered to pay £500 in compensation after her boyfriend’s dog attacked a child.

Holly Dodd, 22, had gone into her home looking for cash to buy an ice cream when the XL Bully dog, called Rambo, darted out of her front door and attacked a seven-year-old girl.

Dodd, herself a mum of two, was looking after Rambo while her boyfriend Jamie Cheshire was at work on October 10, and says she had no chance of holding the dog back.

She eventually managed to pull the dog from the little girl, but she noticed blood seeping through the back of her trousers and was taken to hospital.

Details of her injuries were not released, and Rambo was put down following the attack.

Dodd, who is unemployed, appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court where she admitted being in control of a dangerous dog which caused injury.

She’s been ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim, which will be be paid by her boyfriend.

Prosecutor Andrew Madden said: ‘Miss Dodd’s child has been present with the victim and they attended at the defendant’s address to ask for money for ice cream.

‘The defendant opened the door but the dog ran out and bit the victim causing injury.

‘Miss Dodd did attempt to pull the dog off the victim and she was eventually successful.

‘The victim noticed that blood was seeping through the back of her pants. A woman attended the address to take the complainant to hospital.

‘In fairness to Miss Dodd, it would appear that she has called police to report the incident and she was later interviewed in relation to this matter.

‘In interview she said she was in control of the dog Rambo, and confirmed that Rambo ran out of the address and attacked the complainant, causing the injuries. I understand the dog has already been destroyed by the police.”

In a letter read to the court, Dodd said: ‘Rambo has been around both [of my] children since he was a puppy and he was amazing with both of them.

‘Rambo is a big dog for his age and being a puppy was still very energetic.

‘The day Rambo bit the girl my partner was working. It turned out to be one of the worst days of our lives.

‘We rang the police, asking them to take our dog and best friend, knowing what would happen to him. It has broken our hearts as a family but we have wanted to do the right thing and be responsible.

‘I am truly sorry, I feel extremely guilty for what happened. It was a genuine accident.

‘Rambo is a very big dog and I am a petite girl. It just ran past me. I had no chance in this situation. If I did, it would not have happened.

‘I am just a young mum trying my best and trying to do the right thing.’

Michael Gray, defending, said: ‘When the incident took place she called police three times to try and report the matter and get the police to come out and talk to her about what had happened.

‘Police did eventually come but only after the third call. She took steps to report the matter to the police straight away and it took some perseverance.

‘She was told by police at the station to expect a conditional caution but after the interview, when due to be released she was told that she would be charged.

‘A decision to be charged was in the public interest because of these dogs are in the media and the injuries to the child are also relevant in the charging decision.

‘Mr Cheshire feels incredibly guilty. He left the dog with Miss Dodd whilst he was at work. He was interviewed but there has been no action taken against him at all.

‘It is because it was Miss Dodd who was in control that day that this case was brought against her. So Miss Dodd finds herself before you today and Mr Cheshire does not.

‘Up until this incident the dog had been fine. But of course, this is a young dog, getting bigger and bigger each day. There is now no dog in the house, she has no intention of replacing the dog with an XL Bully.

‘The impact has been traumatic. This is a friend of the family and the child that has been hurt is a friend. It caused her some serious trauma herself.

‘The defendant has made clear that she does not want this type of dog in her house again and that is echoed by Mr Cheshire.’

Sentencing Dodd, JP Kenneth Baird told Dodd: ‘It could have been a very much more serious matter but you have acted responsibly after the event.’

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