There have been twelve cases involving dangerous dogs in Wiltshire courts in the past six months. Here are some of them:

Out of control rottweiler

The 52 year old Phillipa Penny of Studlans and Studely in Calne pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog.

Her black and tan rottweiler injured another woman on the by way between Avebury and Cherhill.

She was ordered to pay £2,000 compensation, and told her dog would be destroyed unless it was fitted with a muzzle in public places. She was also ordered to pay costs.

Stay of execution for Digby

Digby, the five year-old Patterdale terrier got a stay of execution after he injured a woman walking in Monkton Park.

His owner, 47-year-old Anne Jeffries of The Butts admitted liability and was told to both muzzle her pet and keep him on a short lead in public, or he would be put to sleep.

He was not destroyed as magistrates felt the dog did not constitute a risk to public safety having considered the behaviour of the owner.

Re-offending sees dog put down

A guilty plea was entered by 56-year-old James Hulbert of Summerleaze earlier this month (May) for being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog causing injury.

His Rotweiler and German Shepherd cross was out of control in Trowbridge. Wiltshire magistrates ordered that the dog, Angel, be put down as it was considered a danger to the public.

They also looked into the law on being a fit and proper person and cited a previous conviction which happened outside his front door.

He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £500 compensation, £85 costs and £50 to victim services and was banned from owning a dog for five years unless it was an officially approved assistance dog.

Case still to be heard

Jason Oakes, 37, of Briar Leaze in Compton Bassett has had his case of being the owner/person in charge of a dangerously out of control dog adjourned until later this month.

His border terrier JJ is alleged to have injured another man in Royal Wootton Bassett.

'Actions of victim' avoids compensation

The 69-year-old Sharon Draper of Parsonage Farm admitted being the owner of a dangerous terrier called Roupie after it attacked a man on a footpath off Battlesbury Road in Warminster.

The dog lived subject to it being muzzled and on a lead. She was fined £576 and costs of £85 with £57 to victim services.

No compensation was ordered due to evidence given about the actions of the victim.

Pitbull put down

Magistrates ordered that Bruger, and American Pitbull be destroyed after his owner Wendy Stokes, 48, from Bourne Road, Swindon, admitted owning him and that he injured another man.

The official Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) bans four breeds from being owned or bred.

They are the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentino and the Fila Braziliero.

DEFRA estimates suggest that 740 people per 100 000 population per year are bitten by dogs with 250,000 people attending minor injury and emergency units each year due to dog bites.