Peter Rickard, 64, of Lemnos, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to failing to control a dog causing serious injury and failing to register a dog.
Prosecutor Simon Pogue told the court Rickard’s male dog attacked a 49-year-old man at his Lemnos property at about 6.45pm on November 5, 2024.
The court heard the man had attended the property to purchase goods, and Rickard had told him the dog wouldn’t hurt him.
However, the dog eventually got agitated, and when the man walked to his car, the dog growled and pushed the man against the car, biting him on the side of his body.
The man was taken to Goulburn Valley Health and given a tetanus shot.
Mr Pogue said the dog was unregistered.
Rickard’s defence solicitor Luke Slater told the court the attack came as a shock to his client, who had owned the dog for a little over two years.
He said it had never shown concerning behaviour, the court heard.
Mr Slater also noted the dog wasn’t seized, and his client followed up with the victim after the attack.
Magistrate Victoria Campbell said Rickard should’ve controlled his dog while the victim, a stranger to the dog, was visiting his property.
“You never know what they’re going to do,” she said.
Rickard was fined $1000 and no conviction was recorded.
Ms Campbell ordered he pay legal costs of $2700, medical costs of $620, and statutory costs of $144.
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