An animal psychologist has saved a shopkeeper’s dog from a Court destruction order after it bit two women.

Buster, a seven-year-old German shepherd, was reprieved at Bradford Crown Court yesterday when Dr Roger Mugford told the judge he was confident his owner, Suckpal Singh, would keep his pet under close control.

Singh, 48, who runs a corner shop on Greenhead Lane, Utley, near Keighley, was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £500 compensation to Judith Burdett at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard Buster attacked and bit Mrs Burdett, 50, after she walked her Patterdale terrier past his shop on December 11 last year.

Singh, who pleaded guilty in October to allowing the dog to enter a place where it should not have been and injure a person, appealed to the judge, Recorder Sophie Drake, not to make an order under the Dangerous Dogs’ Act to have Buster destroyed.

Prosecutor Alisha Kaye said Mrs Burdett saw Singh struggling to keep hold of his dog. It broke free and ran at her.

She picked up her small dog and knocked frantically on the door of the nearest house to be let in.

As she tried to get through the door to safety, Buster jumped up and bit her under the arm.

Mrs Burdett said the dog pulled at her for a few seconds before Singh dragged it off.

She needed medical treatment and still had a scar and lump from the bite. The court heard Mrs Burdett had also suffered stress and was still seeing a doctor.

Miss Kaye said that four months later, Buster bit a woman estate agent visiting Singh’s home. She was attacked and bruised when she opened an internal door and came “head to head” with Buster.

Miss Kaye said the woman did not press the police to prosecute.

Dr Mugford told the court he had spent an hour and a half with Buster, taking him for a walk past schoolchildren.

He said Buster was a strong and healthy dog who need not be a hazard if he was safely managed and Singh was not an irresponsible owner.

Singh assured the judge he would comply with all the recommendations made by Dr Mugford.

Recorder Drake ordered Singh to raise the fence to his back yard to keep Buster secure and tether him with a security collar and a strong hook and leash.

He must be castrated and wear a special harness and a muzzle when out for a walk.

Recorder Drake said: “This was a very frightening incident for Mrs Burdett and she felt traumatised afterwards.”