A Freshwater woman whose dog savagely killed a Dachshund back in January has admitted not having the canine under proper control at the time – but the dog will not be destroyed.
Sarah Storie-Pugh, 70, of Colwell Road in Freshwater admitted that her dog was not under control when she appeared at the Isle of Magistrates Court this afternoon (Tuesday).
A representative on behalf of the Chief Constable of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary told the court that Storie-Pugh was walking her 2 Leonberger dogs in the Golden Hill area of Freshwater on 11th January 2023, as exclusively reported by Island Echo.
Both of her dogs were walking off-lead when 1 of them – called Dodger – came into contact with a small Dachshund. Dodger proceeded to run up to the smaller dog and bite on its neck, he then grabbed the canine by the torso and shook him around.
The owner of the Dachshund attempted to perform CPR on the dog but due to its injuries, which included a punctured lung, it unfortunately died at the scene. It was heard in court how Storie-Pugh stood motionless at the scene before remarking that her own dog Dodger would now have to be put down.
The court also heard how, around 15 minutes prior to this incident, Dodger came into contact with another small dog. Despite the 70-year-old’s best attempts to take action and control Dodger – which included blowing a loud whistle – the dog still headed towards the Chihuahua only for its owner to stop the 2 dogs from coming into contact by stepping in front of the onrushing Leonberger.
Defending, Tim Concannon told the court that Storie-Pugh, who grew up on a farm and has had dogs for the majority of her life, was appalled by what happened. He also added that Dodger was a friendly dog who likes other large dogs but that he would’ve instead seen the small Dachshund like a toy.
After a brief deliberation, Magistrates opted to impose a control order as opposed to ordering that the dog be put down.
This new control order states that Dodger must remain within Storie-Pugh’s property at all times unless he is attending a pre-arranged veterinary or dog grooming appointment. It also stated that when off the property for the above reasons the dog must be muzzled and on a lead of no more than 1.5 metres. The last condition of the order is that Dodger isn’t allowed to be walked elsewhere with another dog.
Sod the dog blame the owner
Dog should have been destroyed.
No it shouldn’t. It should have been on a lead and muzzled. All dogs originate from wolves and some will have a natural urge to kill. I’m very sorry for the owner of the dashhund.
As it wasn’t on lead and muzzled though clearly a danger to other dogs, what makes you think the owner is certain to obey the order? I live in Freshwater and see big and potentially deadly dogs off the lead every day.
Please tell me that this woman IS Not allowed to have anymore dog’s…
Should be destroyed end of.
Why do I get the feeling madam will let a little time go by and when she thinks its water under the bridge, break the conditions? Oh that’s right, human nature!
Dog should be destroyed to highlight dog owners responsibilitys, a stronger signal needs to be sent.
Sorry but should have been put down, I have a dog and the first time he bites another dog or person ..he will go …its the sensible thing to do
You can’t seriously be blaming her. She’s an innocent woman. Paid tax her whole life, not like immigrants. This was an act of god, there in no fault here. 🙁
Omg why can’t you blame her??? Do you know her/had any encounters with her whilst she out walking the two dogs??? I have – she is an irresponsible dog owner who thinks she’s better than anyone. Walks the dogs on long leads, can hardly control them & gives you a sarcastic comment when you ask her to pull her dogs in close whilst you pass with your own dog.
It is her fault – she could not control them!
You’re a straight up idiot. Act of god my ass. You cannot be that stupid. Please tell me after millions of years of evolution there are not people as stupid in this world as the person who made this ridiculous comment. Fatal dog attacks on humans have doubled in the last few years, it’s people like you who need an encounter with a vicious dog, it might just wake you up to reality. The fact you bring immigrants into the conversation just advertises your ignorance
Please don’t isle of wighter. Idiotic comments such as yours will tarnish the reputation of the mostly good souls on this beleaguered isle.
Would you be here defending this occurrence, if you had been directly affected by this pompous selfish and entitled woman and here dangerous shitting machine? No, thought not sunshine, so jog on.
That is just an inevitable fact, yes most dogs are timid and friendly because they have just been put in handbags all their life but a dog like this or any kind of breed of dog that was working is going to have temperamental adaptations to make but to just put it down because it did what any canine “CANINE” would do is just wrong. Dogs have been with us for 1000s of years and to think they havent evolved with us is just naive. They’ve learned to adapt behaviours and otherwise and from experience people have just snapped with me like the dog they are so what we are above all creation when we cant even control our own species lol
Absolutely load of rubbish!! If that was a 20 year old nipper and his staffie or pit bull had killed another dog it would have been put down and he would have got a big fine!!
Shot the thing and ban her from keeping dogs!
Dog should be destroyed. It could have been a child. Too many owners incapable of controlling their dogs, even with the aid of a large whistle!!
Poor dog, in his world he did nothing wrong and you want him dead what sort of human population are we? Lol probably the type of person to see a spider and kill it out of sheer fear when you 3x the size of it lol maybe the smaller dog reacted the same way and started emitting the same energy and the bigger dog thought who this fool giving it large lol just saying dogs communicate with each other and it’s funny when I see dog owners go naww who’s a good boy and the dogs all like uhh what did I do? I’m just walking lol for them it’s like your best friend who thinks your stupid and you have to remind them that they know you passed with honours lol human naivety will be the ultimate downfall of the human race
“3x the size of a spider”
the world’s biggest spider or a very tiny person. Either way I’d be s#*t scared
Just what I was thinking ….
Lol point withstanding, my analogy wasnt quite to scale but you get it. Point being is that no matter our size we get scared
So – 15 minutes previously she realised she didn’t have control of the dog, but did nothing.
The dog should be sent on a course to learn how to behave, and the totally irresponsible owner should be put down. That could have been a little child, not another dog.
Shame we can’t use her ‘double barrel ‘ name to put them both down
Storie-Pugh
Significant?
How can a 70 year old control two huge powerful dogs like that? Is that the reason she walks them of the lead? She would be dragged of her feet. Dangerous!
She should be put down?
So it’s now ok not to exercise your dog and keep it locked away in your garden? The thing would be better off dead
It had already attacked another small dog only 15 minutes before and yet she still had it off the lead?
I agree with others on here, give it a little while and she’ll be walking them again off the lead.
It’s a dog eat dog world
We have listened and we will act. I am about to introduce legislation that requires owners such as this one to be kept on a lead when being walked in public. We will also require them to be muzzled for the safety of the wider public.
What about fine for the owner, compensation for the other dog owner? Any apology or regret? Imo owner needs to be put down, horrible self-entitled piece of scum that is irresponsible.
I’m a dog owner who lives near this lady and she has no respect to any other dog owner….she will be out walking her other leonberger within the area so dog walkers beware! I’ve encounter her a number of times asking her to rein in the dogs whilst I pass and she just makes a sarcastic comment…..
Law needs to change to all dogs on leads in public, until this happens incidents like this or even worse will continue to happen as often as they are.
Sounds like this won’t stop her walking her dogs then how is it going to be policed?
Come on!! I totally agree that she should have had control of her dogs as that is the law, but punishing every other dog owner is not the way to go. You don’t punish every driver when a small minority drink and drive. Some dogs need lots of exercise and they would simply not get enough if they were on lead all the time.
Except, with dogs, it seems that the minority are those that have adequate control of their mutts when they are off the lead.
Absolute rubbish….it’s not a punishment walking a dog on a lead – it’s being responsible and keeping control! So what you are saying is that all those “dog owners” who have “loose” dogs who say ” oh he’s/she’s never done that before” when it’s snarled/snapped/attacked a dog on lead should carry on walking their very obedient dog without a lead! You cannot police the competence of a dog owner so keeping the dog on a lead is safest & that’s what this is about….
Here we go again…. blanket overreaction to a tiny percentage of incidents! Owners need more education as to their responsibilities as dog owners, we do not need to restrict a dogs ability to be exercised by keeping them on lead at all times. Since when do we punish all for the mistakes of the minority!
I know first hand her dog went for an alsatian which was on a lead two years ago and was only saved from a savaging by the owner getting her dog in her car quickly, every local dog owner knows this woman.
Yes I’ve had 1st hand experience with her too!
frequents Monks Lane & surrounding fields as well as Golden Hill!
I bet she’s one of the many that doesn’t pick up the s**t either. Golden Hill fort is a minefield for it, which makes a family walk somewhat interesting
What’s next? Banning drink driving because a small minority can’t hold their alcohol. The woke government has gone to far. It’s the 15 minute cities!
And who will ensure she keeps it out of public areas? No one. Next it’ll be a small child that it thinks is a toy.
Maybe it’s time all dogs are muzzled when out in public
Stupid comment. Let’s handcuff everyone human out in public because some get into fights.
No actual punishment even though the dog was “dangerously out of control”, which is a criminal offence. Funny hand shakes brigade must have got old double barrel off the hook.
I know the woman who owned the dachshund and she’s dreadfully upset.
I’m sure she is, but so is the owner of the dog who was killed. She should have known the law and had her dogs under control, I’m afraid I have no sympathy for her!
Seen today on middle road around 10am, both dogs in the car…… wonder if was a vet trip? Grooming? Or still walking them??
Be Careful Sarah
The people that walk this area will have to report her if she breaks the rule..the bigger the dog the less excessive it needs but I could be wrong.
My heart goes out to the owner of the poor dogs that were killed, horrific. I have a small dog that got beat up by a stafi, no blood but it has effected mine with not much trust so always on a lead although staf is never on a lead where ever it is !!