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The owner of a beloved family pet savaged by a dog off its lead spoke out after a man was sentenced in court.

Mum-of-two Lynsey Main had been on an Easter day out to Speke Hall with her partner Aaron Traynor, their three-year-old daughter Renee, and their dog Rosie, a Bichon Frise.

They were returning to their home in Speke when they noticed a man with a brown/black Staffordshire bull terrier off its lead in front of them.

It resulted in the bull terrier, called Louie, attacking the helpless little dog, resulting in serious injuries including broken ribs, a punctured lung, and other puncture wounds caused by dog bites.

(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)

The man responsible for the bull terrier, Alan Cain, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Monday to be sentenced after being found guilty of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control.

The 65-year-old was also found guilty of using threating behaviour after telling the young girl's dad he would "kill him in front of his daughter" if he called police.

At the sentencing, prosecutor Lucy Fitch-Adams said the bull terrier "picked Rosie up in her mouth and shook her violently."

Cain, of Hale Road, Speke, made no attempt to drag away the dog, which belonged to his daughter.

He also "waved a large stick he was carrying in an aggressive manner."

The court heard it cost £1,300 to treat Rosie for her injuries following the incident in April.

In her personal statement, Lynsey said: "Since the incident my doctor has diagnosed me with anxiety. This has been a caused by what happened to me and my family, but it is also due to the build-up of the court date.

"My anxiety is very much up and down at the minute and I do not know when I will start to improve.

"Personally for me, I have been left heart-broken by what happened to my dog Rosie and I can no longer take her out on her lead as she gets very nervous if she sees other dogs.

"My daughter Renee, who has since turned four, is now terrified of other dogs after witnessing the incident and she panics when she sees any dog big or small, no matter where she is.

"My daughter never had problems with dogs before so I am concerned she will be like this forever. I am also wary when I see dogs, whether they are on a lead or not and I am fearful of another attack.

"I think that there are too many dog attacks occurring lately and in my opinion the owners think that they can get away with it so I think there should be harsher penalties."

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Defending, Juliane Garay said Cain was of previous good character.

"He has mental health issues and has been treated for depression for 14 years," she said.

(Image: COPYRIGHT UNKNOWN)

Sentencing Cain, magistrates said it was "a very serious offence."

He will be electronically tagged for a total of 16 weeks for the offences, meaning he will be subject to a curfew from 7pm to 7am.

He was also ordered to pay compensation to his victims totalling £1,300, along with a victim surcharge of £900.

The dog will also have to be muzzled when outside - including in a garden - and supervised by a responsible adult.

Speaking afterwards, Lynsey, 38, said: "I just wanted people to know he didn't get away with it.

"I treat my dog as if she was one of my babies. I didn't just pick a name at random - all my children's names begin with R and have five letters: Robyn, Rosie and Renee. That's how much I love her."