Rottweiler could be put down for police attack

Jul 5 2012

A ROTTWEILER pup could be put down after it sank its teeth into two police officers in Strathearn, biting one of them on the bum.

The dog, called Bonnie, is in kennels at Forteviot after its owner, 52-year-old Martin Reeves, was convicted last week of ordering it to attack the officers.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that Reeves shouted at Bonnie to “get them” after a fracas erupted in his son’s house in Auchterarder.

PC Peter McAtamney was bitten on the bottom while PC Craig McLeod suffered injuries to his legs and arms and needed hospital treatment.

The fate of the dog will be decided on July 25 when Reeves, of Stanley Crescent, Perth, returns to court for sentence.

Sheriff  Eric Brown has asked for a report from a senior SSPCA officer before deciding whether the pup should be destroyed.

Reeves was found guilty after trial of ordering the dog to attack the officers at a house in John Law Crescent, High Street, on February 3.

He was also convicted of being the owner of an animal which was dangerously out of control.

Reeves maintained in evidence that he did not give any command to his pet.

He claimed it was just being protective after it saw him and his son rolling about with police in the hallway.
The dog, which was in the livingroom at the time, managed to open the door.

Reeves insisted he was not guilty – and so was his dog.

His son, also Martin (24), of John Law Crescent, was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

He admitted failing to turn down a music system at his house when asked by police and making sexual comments about the families of police officers the same day.

At an earlier hearing Reeves snr pleaded with the sheriff to free the Rottweiler from its “cage” at Forteviot.

“I don’t understand why we  are walking the streets and the dog’s locked up in a cage,” he said.

“The dog shouldn’t be locked up. Can you not give me custody of my dog? I want him back.”

The sheriff refused the request but an early trial date was set for last week.