Akita dog-owner 'warned' Hull driver who suffered savage bites in attack
THE owner of a dog that savaged a delivery driver has spoken out to defend himself.
Tony Quinn, whose Akita called Lucky bit Hull driver Derek Brady when he was on his rounds, says there were warning signs on display.
Mr Brady won more than £10,000 in compensation after the Japanese fighting dog ripped his right calf, leaving him physically and emotionally scarred.
Mr Quinn hand-reared Lucky and fed him using a syringe while the rest of the litter was sold on to close friends.
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He said: "I do feel sorry for Mr Brady but there were signs telling him not to go on the property with the dog there.
"I had also warned him three weeks before when I was outside and he was delivering a parcel.
"I told him Lucky didn't know who he was and although he'd never bitten anyone, it wasn't a good idea to go near him."
Mr Quinn, 41, has six children under the age of ten. They live with him and his partner in a six-bedroom house in the village of Gransmoor, near Bridlington.
Lucky was kept on a 4m chain at the front of the house.
Mr Brady had left two parcels in Mr Quinn's shed when he realised the owners were not in. He was writing a card when Lucky suddenly gripped his leg and sunk his teeth in, leaving him with a 6in wound.
Mr Brady had to have counselling for two years after suffering flashbacks and nightmares about the attack, which happened in May 2010.
Mr Quinn said: "I had taken our baby to the hospital and was on my way back when I saw two ambulances outside the house.
"I thought my elderly neighbour was ill but then I was told what had happened.
"The first thing I said was 'why did he go in when there is a sign on the front gate?'
"Police officers at the time couldn't understand it either but our dog was taken that morning and we never saw him again.
"He was gone for six months and I thought we might get him back. My children were all asking where he was.
"I was told three weeks after he was put down what had happened and my children were very upset.
"But they knew he had done something wrong and that he shouldn't have bitten Mr Brady."
Mr Quinn said when he was first contacted about compensation he was told he was not covered on his home insurance.
"We later found out we were and now my insurance has tripled," he said.
"I am a responsible dog owner. Even though the lead was 4m long and Lucky could reach the gates, it was still private property.
"He was boisterous, like any two-year-old dog in his prime, but he had never harmed anyone.
"We've now bought the children a new dog, an English bull terrier, but I have nothing against Akitas.
"I don't think they should be included in the Dangerous Dogs Act at all. They are great pets and I wouldn't have had them when I had children if I had any doubts."
Mr Brady, of Kingswood, declined to comment last night but previously told the Mail: "I can't understand why anybody would want one as a pet.
"It appeared placid so I thought I would be okay but it suddenly came out of nowhere.
"I'm pleased to have won the financial settlement to compensate for all the pain and trauma I suffered.
"But there's still quite a noticeable scar and I'll have this for the rest of my life."
57 Comments
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by DB111
Thursday, January 24 2013, 1:54PM
“Didn't tell me 3 weeks before ,only started the round the week previous,nuff said.”
by kevow89
Thursday, January 24 2013, 8:59AM
“Akita's are probably the most protective dogs on the planet, they are guardians of the home. such an amazing breed of dog! i own a 7 month old Japanese Akita and have to say she is a delight (not just with me, with everyone she comes into contact with) I think this owner may not have socialized his Akita properly and that may be where the problem was.
if Akita's are well looked after and trained properly they can be an amazing breed to own, they MUST be socialized to prevent things like this happening. Feel sorry for the delivery driver but he should have read the warnings, if some person has told me not to go in there garden because they don't know how there (fully grown) Akita would react, id never enter that garden again.
they MUST be heavily socialized from 12 weeks in my opinion.
as for Akita's going on the dangerous dogs act? I think people need to get to know the breed before jumping the gun.”
by eddierex
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 7:26AM
“is that driver a bit thick? its like walking into a field that says "danger minefield" yet he still walks into it...”
by Hullfc4
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 7:14AM
“Must be small in trouser department to need a rock hard dog! English bull terrier thats a safe choice! What an absolute idiot I can't believe The HDM has allowed this article to appear.”
by Rastus
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 12:34AM
“It's obvious that if a delivery address gives any indication that danger is present then the recipient MUST collect the item from the courier.
If you risked being savaged by the boss's dog every time you went to work would you be happy?”
by Lollipop
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 12:19AM
“"It appeared placid so I thought I would be okay but it suddenly came out of nowhere.
Either you saw the dog and in your professional opinion assessed it was placid and therefore I predict you approached it when no-one of sound mind would have done so given the fact it was chained up and there were warning signs up.... YET then you say it came fom nowhere....?? Did you see it or not???
I smell someone on the compo wagon, what a shame for the real victim ....the dog !!”
by nullisecundus
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 11:07PM
“Anyone who owns a dog should be responsible enough to ensure that there dog is not able to ..
correction
Anyone who owns a dog should be responsible enough to ensure that their dog is not able to ...”
by nullisecundus
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 11:06PM
“Max 102 -- Where would he have put the 'non delivery note ' ?
If you order items to be delivered to your house then surely you should make sure it is safe for the person whose job it is to deliver them to be able to do so in safety?
Anyone who owns a dog should be responsible enough to ensure that there dog is not able to bite people who have legitimate reasons to be on their property. Perhaps they should also consider that children may enter the property and not be able to read any warning signs posted.
The only person to blame for the dog being destroyed was the person who allowed it to be able to get to the front door where a postman or other delivery person has a legitimate right to be.
I have nothing against Akitas or any other breed of dog; in this case the dog was simply protecting its territory. The owner is always responsible for ensuring their dog is not able to bite people who have done nothing wrong.
Any dog has the potential to be dangerous & owners should recognise this. In previous jobs I have had contact with professional dog handlers who discouraged people from approaching/touching their dogs as they recognised this fact.”
by thesnooper
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 9:28PM
“to warn someone verbally and via signage not to enter you must have knowledge that the dog would probably go for someone add to this the fact it was chained up.
we also only have the owners word that he was previously verbally warned.
a responcible owner of such a dog would have had it in a locked pen stopping it coming into contact with people and it just goes to show how unsafe the children were around it, it could have easily snapped as others have killing a child, when will people learn that the dogs they think are safe around their family have been proven too many times not to be”
by allwaysred1
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 9:11PM
“by jezhull... mr know it all is back.”