Dog owner defends pet

From the archive, first published Saturday 17th Mar 2007.

The owner of a dog which injured a toddler has defended his pet.

Last week Lee-Anne Harvey and Alan Foster called for a change in dangerous dog legislation after their one-year-old daughter, Paige, was hurt by the animal at a friend's home on Rombalds Drive, Skipton.

But David Sykes insists his dog Pip, is not dangerous.

"He is a very friendly medium-sized collie/terrier cross from the RSPCA rescue dog scheme and is very nervous, as these dogs are prone to be," he said.

Mr Sykes said the incident with Paige was "distressing and sad".

He claimed it had occurred after the toddler had been hyperactive and had wandered around the room.

Mr Sykes said Paige had gone to see Pip, who had been cowering under a computer chair.

The dog owner refuted her parents' claims that she had been bitten.

My Sykes said: "The pin prick marks on her cheeks were probably claws, not teeth, and the injuries to her head were more than likely caused by impact with either the base of a typist's chair or a door frame."