Pet owners in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge have been fined hundreds of pounds in recent weeks as police launch a crackdown on dangerous dogs.
An alsatian owner in Highbridge has been ordered to pay compensation of £300 to a lady who was bitten on her leg.
The owner, who also received a fine of £100, pleaded guilty at Sedgemoor Magistrates Court to ‘allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place, causing injury’.
PC Tracey Stiles told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The owner has been ordered by the court to keep the dog muzzled and kept on a lead while in a public place. Failure to do so will lead to the dog’s destruction.”
Another alsatian owner who lives in North Burnham has also been arrested and taken to court after breaching a previous court order in relation to his animal.
“The man has recently appeared at Sedgemoor Magistrates Court for the offence of having custody of a dog in contravention of an order imposed by East Hertfordshire Magistrates Court in 2009 and the defendant has been dealt with by way of a fine of £400 and court costs of £35.”
PC Stiles added: “It is important for dog owners to take responsibility when having their dogs in a public place. We have received several similar complaints in the last few months and all are being investigated.”
Burnham police have also this week warned dog owners that they face fines if their animals are fouling public areas of the town. Dog fouling was set as a PACT priority in Burnham-On-Sea earlier this year and police have been giving out fixed penalty notices when needed.
