A dangerous dog is to be returned to its Moulsecoomb owner after spending a month in custody – but must be castrated and muzzled.
The 7-year-old bull mastiff, called Mace, was seized by Sussex Police and council officers following a vicious attack on another dog living nearby.
On Tuesday, Brighton magistrates imposed a conditional discharge on the dog’s owner Ashley Gosden, 21, of Staplefield Drive, Moulsecoomb. He was also order to pay £100 costs and £150 towards kennelling fees.
They also ordered that Mace should be muzzled and kept on a lead when out in public and castrated as soon as possible.
Gosden had pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act, that he failed to keep Mace under proper control in a public place.
Len Batten, prosecuting on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council, said that Mace launched a vicious and unprovoked attack on Nanook, a 9 month old Alaskan Malamute dog which was being walked on a lead by its owner in Staplefield Drive.
The court heard how Mace grabbed the dog by the throat and pinned him to the floor on three occasions, causing injuries to his neck and terrifying the owner.
After a complaint by the owner of the injured dog, and due to a string of previous complaints from residents, animal welfare officers and police obtained a warrant and took Mace into custody.
Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, cabinet member for environment said: “Public safety is a high priority for this council and it is the duty of all dog owners to ensure that their pets do not present a danger to the public.
“When, as in this case, an owner shows a blatant disregard for the law, we will not hesitate to prosecute and take the necessary steps to protect our residents.”
