XL Bully attacked two people and pet dog after pushing way into family's home
An XL bully barged his way into a family home to attack a French bulldog and its owner. A neighbour who rushed to help was also bitten by the dog called Cookie, who has since been put down.
Cookie, an XL Bully, was owned by Marekco Ratteray and his partner Keeryan Bott. The breed was designated as 'dangerous' and has been banned since February, but excemptions certificates could be acquired. Cookie's owners had complied with the rules and had also installed high fences around the garden of their home in John Wesley Close, Mountsorrel to keep others safe.
However, on the day of the incident on Thursday, Febuary 15, Cookie jumped from the garden into the house through and open window before charging out of the door while Ratteray was putting the bins out.
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The victim's French bulldog, Darcy, had been playing out in the road as Cookie escaped. When Darcy's owner saw Cookie running towards them she picked up Darcy and ran into her home. Prosecutor Tejal Muru told Leicester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (November 6): "She saw the XL Bully approaching with no lead and no muzzle and ran over to her dog.
"She took her dog and went to the house and the XL Bully pushed against the door and managed to get in. Her two children - a nine year old and a seven year old - were in the house. She lifted her dog up above her head to protect it and the defendant's dog latched onto her left tricep."
The victim's young son then fled from the house. Simon Edwards, the chair of the bench, said after seeing a clip from the family's CCTV that the child had a "terrified" look on his face.
Back inside the house, the injured woman dropped Darcy, who was then grabbed by Cookie. Cookie's owners realised what was happening and Ratteray rushed into the neighbour's house after his dog.
A male neighbour also ran to the house and between them they managed to get Cookie off Darcy, who ran away without any serious injuries. But Cookie then bit the male neighbour on his finger.
Ms Muru said Ratteray, who also lives at an address in Oxford Street, Leicester city centre, had no similar previous convictions and nothing at all for the past five years. She said the 41-year-old had bought Cookie for Bott, 34, but he was the registered owner of the XL Bully.
Jabeen Naru, representing both Ratteray and Bott, said the couple had properly obtained an exemption certificate for Cookie, who was a "family pet". She said: "Their children were devastated when the dog was destroyed. Mr Ratteray immediately did follow the dog. He did everything he could to bring his dog under control."
She asked the magistrates to be lenient to Bott, due to her lack of involvement in what happened during the incident. She said: "She herself suffers with depression and anxiety. I would like you to consider a conditional discharge for Miss Bott."
But the magistrates, who have the power to jail people for up to six months, decided their powers were not enough to deal with the case. Mr Edwards told the couple: "[The victim] was in her own home, minding her own business with her children and was unexpectedly attacked by a dog.
"She was completely taken by surprise and put in fear. Injury was caused to herself, her dog and her neighbour. We've also taken into account her child running out of the house - he was visibly distressed."
Ratteray and Bott are due to be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court later this month.
- The original article stated the victim's dog was a French poodle. It was in fact a French bulldog.