A MAN has appeared in court after his three dogs mauled an innocent Yorkshire Terrier to death.

Gavin Thompson, 24, of Hampshire Close, Shaw, appeared before magistrates on Thursday after Wiltshire Police applied for a control order under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

It followed an incident in November when 14-year-old Rusty, a Yorkshire Terrier belonging to Vince Goodwin,of Ramleaze, was attacked by Thompson’s three bull terriers – Shadow and Skye, both three, and Missy, 11 months.

The attack happened outside Mr Goodwin’s house as the three dogs were being walked by Mr Thompson’s partner, named only as Miss Welsh in court. Shadow ran across the road towards Rusty, who had hearing and sight loss, both Skye and Missy followed and it took several people, including Vince and a number of nearby workmen, to pull the dogs off of Rusty.

Unfortunately, the dog’s injuries were so severe that he had to be put to sleep at Shaw vets.

Michelle Hewitt, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Mr Goodwin said he saw that the bull terrier had hold of Rusty and was biting him around the neck. He shouted at the woman across the road to do something.

“He hadn’t been on a lead, and the other two dogs, who were being held lightly, were able to break free from Miss Welsh and join in with the attack so all three dogs were attacking the Yorkshire Terrier.

“Mr Goodwin said he was trying to pull the dogs from Rusty but he said they were so strong that they continued biting Rusty, and it took several other people in the area, who greatly assisted in pulling the dogs away.

“It was a very tragic outcome for Rusty who couldn’t be saved from his injuries.”

The control order was put in place by magistrates which states that all three dogs must wear muzzles and be kept on non-extendable leads at all times when in public places and they must be insured for public liability.

They must also be microchipped, the male dog Shadow must be neutered, none of the dogs can be walked in Tamworth Drive where the incident happened and Miss Welsh can only exercise one dog at a time.

Speaking after the hearing, Vince, who now owns two 16-week-old Yorkshire Terriers called Rosie and Charlie, said he was hoping for a different outcome.

“I was hoping that Shadow, the dog which started the attack would be destroyed – that is what the police were pushing for,” said the 38-year-old who claims the dogs have attacked before.

“It doesn’t really fill you with a lot of confidence that this sort of thing isn’t going to happen again.

“I thought the severity of having my dog put to sleep would have meant there would have been a different outcome, it has taken this to happen for measures to be put in place so it just makes you wonder how many chances they are going to be given. People should report incidents if they see anything untoward.”