The Terrifying Dog Attack and Its Aftermath: A Postman’s Ordeal
Introduction
In a shocking incident that left a postman fearing for his life, Steven McKay was viciously attacked by a Belgian Shepherd while delivering mail in Wavertree, Liverpool. The dog’s owner, Joseph Blaney, pleaded guilty to keeping a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury. The court proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court shed light on the harrowing encounter and the subsequent attempts to suppress the incident.
The Unforeseen Assault
As McKay approached the property, he was aware of warnings in the area regarding an aggressive Jack Russell owned by Blaney’s father. However, what awaited him was even more terrifying. In the front yard of the property, the imposing figure of Belgian Shepherd Mally stood with its paws resting on the fence. Little did McKay know that his encounter with this dog would turn into a life-or-death struggle.
McKay, in an attempt to avoid going near the property, stopped on the road and handed a message to a man on the pavement. However, Mally seemed to sense its opportunity for aggression, becoming increasingly furious and barking uncontrollably. Jack Russell, Blaney’s father, emerged from the garden and launched an attack on McKay. Acting in self-defense, the postman kicked the animal and tried to use his mail bag as a barrier, but it wasn’t enough to ward off the ferocious assault.
With a leap over the 3-foot fence, Mally set its sights on McKay, chasing him relentlessly. Eventually, the Shepherd sunk its teeth into McKay’s left buttock, causing excruciating pain. As McKay tried to grab the dog’s mouth and prevent further harm, Mally dragged him to the ground, fiercely attempting to bite his back, neck, and face.
The Owner’s Desperate Pleas
In a shocking turn of events, instead of rushing to aid the victim, Blaney pleaded with McKay not to involve the police. Fearing the consequences of reporting the incident, Blaney offered McKay a joint to calm him down and promised to deal with the dog himself to avoid any legal repercussions. Blaney’s attempt to silence McKay only added to the surreal nature of the situation.
However, despite the pressure, McKay maintained his integrity and refused to stay silent. He promptly reported the incident to his employer and law enforcement agencies, ensuring that justice would be served.
Implications and Consequences
The immediate aftermath of the attack was a suspension of postal deliveries to Ash Vale, leaving over 25 properties in the area without mail for nearly six months. The suspension even affected patients at Alder Hey Hospital, who relied on postal communication for medical updates, and a 70-year-old man anxiously awaiting the results of a cancer test. The consequences of this brutal attack were far-reaching and left a community in distress.
A Traumatized Victim and a Sentence
The psychological impact of the attack cannot be understated. McKay was left traumatized, experiencing anxiety and fear around dogs, even including his own. Sleepless nights and nightmares plagued him, reminders of a terrifying incident that almost cost him his life.
Joseph Blaney, the owner of Mally, appeared in court and expressed remorse for what happened. The judge acknowledged that the attack was an isolated incident and decided against an immediate destruction order. Instead, a contingent destruction order was issued, outlining stringent rules for Mally’s future care and emphasizing that the dog would be destroyed if not kept under control.
In addition to the community order, Blaney was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work and a three-month curfew. He was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation to McKay.
Maintaining Safety Measures
The judge stressed the importance of responsible dog ownership and reminded Blaney of the potential damage dogs can cause. To ensure public safety, Mally is required to be muzzled and kept on a dual control leash attached to a body harness at all times in public spaces. Furthermore, the dog should not be left alone with children under 16 years of age, and precautions must be taken to keep Mally away from other dogs.
Blaney’s commitment to following these strict guidelines, as recommended by an expert, was deemed crucial in preventing any future incidents.
Conclusion
The postman’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers that lurk even within familiar neighborhoods. As communities strive for safety and individuals navigate the responsibilities of pet ownership, it is imperative to be cautious, vigilant, and ready to report any incidents that pose a threat to public well-being.
Summary
In September 2022, postman Steven McKay was attacked by a Belgian Shepherd named Mally while delivering mail. The dog’s owner, Joseph Blaney, tried to convince McKay not to report the incident, going as far as offering him a joint and promising to deal with the dog himself. McKay, however, remained steadfast and reported the attack, which led to a suspension of postal deliveries in the area for nearly six months. Blaney pleaded guilty to keeping a dog dangerously out of control and was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work, and a three-month curfew. Mally will be subject to strict care guidelines, including muzzling and a dual control leash.
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A postman “really thought he might die” when he was dragged to the ground during a vicious dog attack. The dog’s owner then begged postman Steven McKay not to call the police after the Belgian Shepherd chased and bit him, a court heard.
Liverpool Crown Court I heard that owner Joseph Blaney, 37, offered McKay a joint “to calm down” and told him he would kill the dog himself, so he wouldn’t have to report the incident. Blaney appeared in court Friday and pleaded guilty to keeping a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury.
The court heard McKay was delivering along an unknown route in Wavertree, Liverpool, on September 10, 2022, but was aware of warnings in the area about an aggressive Jack Russell, owned by Blaney’s father. As he approached the property, he could see Belgian Shepherd Mally standing in the front yard with his paws resting on the fence.
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Prosecutor David Polglase said: “Mr McKay stopped on the road and gave a man on the pavement the message he was to deliver so that he would not have to go near the property. Mally was ‘becoming furious’, barking, “She was going crazy and marching up and down the area.”
Jack Russell, Blaney’s father, came out of the garden and attacked Mr McKay, who kicked the animal and tried to use his mail bag as a barrier. As he did so, Mally jumped over the 3 foot fence and ran towards him, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Mr McKay ran away and jumped on the bonnet of a car while Mally chased him and “squeezed” his left buttock. “He felt pain that he had never felt before,” Mr. Polglase said. “He tried to grab Mally’s mouth as the dog tried to drag him out of the car. He describes the dog ‘drag’ him as she dragged him to the ground.”
The dog continued to try to bite Mr McKay’s back, neck and face, the court heard, before his owner, Joseph Blaney, tackled him to the ground. He tried to convince Mr McKay to keep quiet about the incident and offered him money, but the postman refused and reported what happened to his work and the police.
The attack resulted in royal mail suspend postal deliveries to Ash Vale, leaving residents without mail for almost six months. The suspension is believed to have affected more than 25 properties on the road, including patients at Alder Hey Hospital and a 70-year-old man awaiting the results of a cancer test.
Charles Lander, defending, said the attack was “an isolated incident” and there had been no previous incidents involving the dog. He said Blaney had shown “clear remorse” for what happened.
Judge Kate Cornell said the victim had been left traumatized by the attack and said: “He is now worried and anxious around other dogs, including his own. He has had sleepless nights and nightmares. This must have been a terrible experience for him, during which I really thought I might die.”
However, he accepted that the attack was an isolated incident and therefore did not order an immediate destruction order. Instead, he issued a contingent destruction order, setting out strict rules for Mally’s future care and warning the defendant: “The dog will be destroyed if he does not keep it under control.”
She said: “The expert says that you are capable of being a responsible dog owner. You have taken steps to ensure that he is not left unsupervised in the future and have followed advice to keep Mally safe and secure. The expert concludes that the “The dog is not dangerous per se, but was prompted into this behavior by the Jack Russell who perceived that he was being attacked by Mr. McKay.”
Blaney, of Woodhead Road, Birkenhead, was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work and a three-month curfew. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr McKay.
Mally should be kept muzzled and on a dual control leash attached to a body harness at all times in public spaces and should not be left alone with children under 16 years of age. The dog should be kept safe indoors and away from other dogs in the future.
The judge added: “We all know the damage dogs can cause so please make sure this does not happen again.”
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