Staffie owner's relief as pet saved from being destroyed

A CANINE-CRAZY couple have breathed a sigh of relief after their beloved pet, which had injured two other dogs, escaped a death sentence.

Lee Beadle and his partner Lin Crees, of Borough Green, were thrilled when their two-year-old blue-and-white Staffordshire bull terrier was spared at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court last Thursday (May 3).

But they are still angry at the court's verdict, which they describe as "completely unfair," as it orders them to keep Blue on a lead, check chain and muzzle when outside their home in the Crescent.

It cannot be allowed to roam freely in the family garden.

Mr Beadle told the Chronicle: "I am so happy he won't have to die.

"But having to be on a lead all the time will really reduce his quality of life.

"It will be zilch. We might as well put him down ourselves. Essentially his life is over, he cannot play, chase or do puppy training."

Mr Beadle was fighting a Kent Police request for the dog to be destroyed, after it injured two others in Borough Green recreation ground.

Prosecuting, Gareth Davies told the court that Mr Beadle had admitted Blue was dangerous and out of control.

Police asked for him to be controlled after he injured a West Highland terrier on June 21, 2011.

But when he bit a collie-cross on November 10, they demanded a destruction order.

Charles Robert, the collie-cross' owner, said: "Mr Beadle and his four dogs were in the rec and one of his Staffordshire bull terriers started chasing my dog, Skye.

"She ran back to me but then, with no warning, Blue came across and bit her in the back end – she screamed in a way I've never heard."

Mr Robert said he fell to his knees to pull Blue off and two of Mr Beadle's other dogs approached Skye's head.

"I thought she was going to die and it was down to me to save her," he said.

Mr Beadle said he ran over straight away, though Mr Robert said "it seemed to take forever."

When Mr Beadle dragged Blue off, Mr Robert rushed Skye to the vets.

He said: "The dogs were jumping, biting her neck."

Mr Beadle insisted they were "just playing."

In court Mr Beadle and his lawyer, Keith Middleton, claimed that Blue was defending one of the other Staffies that Skye had threatened, but Mr Robert denied this.

Mr Beadle and animal behaviourist Peter Williams explained how Blue has been controlled since.

He had been castrated and been taken to eight one-to-one sessions with Mr Williams and 12 puppy training classes.

Mr Beadle said: "I will even be doing a diploma and training to be a dog behaviourist myself."

Chairman of the bench Beverley Charman said the court would not order destruction, but added: "We expect training to continue and Blue must be kept on a lead, check chain and muzzle whenever he is outside the house."

Afterwards Miss Crees said: "I'm over the moon he's saved."

The couple were also ordered to pay Kent Police £575 costs, £385.95 to Mr Robert and £467.58 to Pauline Coppard, owner of the West Highland terrier, to cover vet bills.

They will pay £10 per week, starting on May 17.