A DOG owner faces prosecution and could be banned from keeping dogs unless she obeys a court order to control her violent pets.

York magistrates heard that Julie Ross’s American Akitas, called Sugarpuff and Irene, have injured other dogs, including attacking a Staffordshire bull terrier.

City of York Council welcomed the dog control orders made against the 53-year-old mother and warned all owners they must train and supervise their dogs properly, urging the public to report cases of dogs attacking dogs or people.

It brought the civil court case against Ms Ross, of Whitecross Road, off Haxby Road, York. She did not contest the orders.

For her, Liam Hassan said she behaved responsibly by paying the vets’ bills for the dogs her pets injured. She had kept dogs for years.

Victoria Waudby, for the council, told magistrates that police conditionally cautioned Ms Ross in April 2016 after her male dog, Sugarpuff, injured another dog.

In March 2017, following another attack by her dog in November 2016, she signed a written undertaking to get behavioural therapy for Sugarpuff and keep him under control, but she didn’t comply with the undertaking, the court heard.

At 10am on August 1, 2017, Sugarpuff and Irene ran out of her property to attack a Staffordshire bull terrier being taken for a walk by its owner, said Mrs Waudby.

Sugarpuff grabbed the terrier’s genitals and Irene had it round the neck and had its ear in its mouth.

Ms Ross, a neighbour and the terrier’s owner managed between them to free the terrified barking terrier.

She took the Akitas inside and returned to see how injured the terrier was. She later paid the vet’s bill for its injuries, said Ms Waudby. Under the dog control orders each dog must be supervised separately by an adult, be muzzled and on a fixed length lead every time it is in public.

Cllr Sam Lisle, the council's executive member for housing and safer neighbourhoods, said: “Dog ownership comes with a responsibility to properly train and supervise pets at all times. This case shows the dangers a lack of proper control can lead to.”

Ms Ross could be prosecuted and banned from having dogs if she breaks the order.