THE owner of a dangerous dog which attacked other dogs in a park and killed a neighbour’s cat is facing a £320 legal bill after repeatedly breaching an order to keep it under control.

Leanne Wyrill, aged 27 of James Backhouse Place, York, was ordered to pay £300 prosecution costs and a £20 court surcharge by York Magistrates and also given a 12-month conditional discharge.

City of York Council said that Wyrill, who owned a Staffordshire cross breed and was given a dog control order in May after it attacked the other animals, had now pleaded guilty to failing to keep the dog under control.

"The order requires Ms Wyrill to keep the dog under proper control at all times, muzzled and wearing a collar whenever it’s outside, and also to be kept on a lead whenever it’s in a public place," said a council spokeswoman.

"The court heard that on May 28 and 29, June 13 and 16, the dog was seen in its owner’s back garden without a collar or muzzle. After the sightings in May, the council wrote to Ms Wyrill reminding her of the order’s conditions.

"On June 24 and 25, the dog was seen again in the back garden without a muzzle and, in the early hours of the morning of June 26, it was seen running down the street towards Hamilton Drive and later that same day in the garden without a muzzle."

She said council neighbourhood enforcement officers visited Ms Wyrill again and asked her to attend an interview to discuss the offences and be given further advice about the order.

But between June 27 and August 4, she allowed the dog in the back garden without a muzzle on four further occasions, and failed to attend the interview or answer questions sent by letter.

Cllr Sam Lisle, the council's executive member for safer neighbourhoods, said: “Our neighbourhood enforcement team deals with a yearly average of 50 dog attacks carried out on other dogs each year.

"Owners are required by law to have their dogs micro-chipped and kept under proper control. If it presents a risk to other dogs or people, the owners can be given a dog control order or face prosecution.

“In this case, the magistrate imposed this order in response to attacks on other dogs and it is unacceptable not to follow it.”

The spokeswoman said magistrates confirmed that if Ms Wyrill wanted to vary the control order, she would have to contact the court.

She added that to report a dog on dog attack in York, residents should call the council on (01904) 551551 or email neo@york.gov.uk, while reports of dog attacks on people should be reported to North Yorkshire Police by dialling 101.