Dog bites minister, is spared death sentence
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Canadian Press Winnipeg A dog that bit a Jehovah's Witness minister after she ignored Beware of Dog signs has been spared a death sentence by a Winnipeg court. Piotr Skawinski, the dog's owner, testified he had two visible warning signs up the day that Ethel Mannetje walked into his back yard. He also said his six-year-old Labrador-German shepherd cross named Boss has never bitten anyone before and is good with children. "For the court to put my dog to sleep because he was in his own boundaries and somebody stepped into it, not paying attention, I think that's just bad," Mr. Skawinski said. "For a lady that's been going door to door for I don't know how many years and still hasn't learned to look for a Beware of Dog sign I don't know what the lady was thinking." Judge Marvin Garfinkel agreed and dismissed a rare discretionary application by the City of Winnipeg to destroy the dog. Ms. Mannetje told court that on June 15 she was going from door to door doing bible education work when she went into the back yard of the Skawinski home. "I didn't see (the dog) coming," she testified. "I turned around and then he bit me. He knocked me down and bit me in the bum." Boss also took a chunk out of Ms. Mannetje's left leg, which required skin grafts to repair. She spent 17 days in hospital. |