A STAFFORDSHIRE bull terrier bit and shook a poodle so hard it yelped in pain and needed 10 stitches in its hind legs, a court was told.

The 10-year-old black poodle was being taken for a walk by its owner when the two-year-old Stafford-shire bull terrier ran out of an open front door, into Packington Road, Droitwich, and made the 30-second savage attack.

This all happened while the Staffordshire bull terrier’s owner Steven Jackson watched television. The 32-year-old of Arkle Road, Droitwich, admitted his brindle brown and white coloured dog called Max was dangerously out of control in a public place when he appeared before Worcester’s magistrates.

Matthew Dodson, prosecuting, said the dog attack took place at about 4.30pm on Sunday, March 8.

“The woman’s dog was calm, passive and on a lead when the Staffordshire bull terrier ran out of the door barking and attacked her dog which was very much smaller,” he said.

“She went on to say the Staffordshire bull terrier picked up her dog in his jaws and threw it around for about 30 seconds.

“The poodle was yelping in pain and it only ended when a gentleman calmly walked out of the flat and lifted the dog away.

“The dog was still in the other dog’s jaw squealing before it eventually fell to the ground.”

Mr Dodson said the poodle suffered cuts to its hind legs and required 10 stitches and £246.85 worth of veterinary treatment to ensure its survival.

Mr Dodson said Jackson admitted in police interview that although Max had never attacked anybody or another dog before he had felt uncomfortable about leaving it in the presence of his own children. Gary Harper, in mitigation, said his client’s dog, which although registered in Jackson’s name, is kept at an ex-partner’s flat, had run out of the front door after a friend had entered the premises.

“He had no knowledge the offence had taken place,” he said.

Mr Harper said children’s gates had been fitted to the kitchen door since the attack and Max is put in there whenever somebody calls at the home. Mr Harper also said Jackson had made numerous attempts to get in touch with the owner of the poodle to offer to pay for the veterinary treatment.

Magistrates made Max the subject of a dog control order which means he must be kept on a lead and fitted with a muzzle whenever taken out in public.

Jackson was ordered to pay £246.85 compensation and £60 court costs.