Huge Tibetan Mastiff pet to be destroyed after attacks

A company director has been left distraught after her huge Tibetan Mastiff was ordered to be destroyed after it attacked three women.

Cher Hardy, 31, was the owner of the large “large bear-like dog“ which went on to maul three victims including a schoolgirl, a pensioner and a mother who had just dropped of her child at school.

The mastiff, named Teddy, jumped up and bit the 17-year-old pupil who was forced to fight off the unprovoked attack by beating the animal with her rucksack in Edinburgh last March.

The vicious 14-stone dog – originally bred to protect livestock from attacks by wolves and bears – also attacked a pensioner without warning near to its owner’s home.

The out-of-control pet jumped up and knocked Jane Humphreys, 73, to the ground before sinking its teeth into her arm and leg.

She was only saved from the attack when two brave workmen jumped in and managed to pull the beast off her.

The huge pet mastiff also launched an attack on mum Fiona McHale, 53, who has suffered permanent scarring and has been left scared of coming into contact with dogs.

Owner Ms Hardy – who is a director of Edinburgh property letting firm H3 Lettings – admitted being the owner of the dog when it attacked the three victims when she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month.

The businesswoman returned to the dock on Monday when she was told her pet will be put down after Sheriff Peter McCormack issued a dog destruction order.

Sheriff McCormack heard from dog behaviour expert Elaine Henley who said in her opinion “there is no cure for behaviour such as Teddy’s”.

Mrs Henley added the dog “poses a danger to the public” and “there are no steps can be taken [with the dog] to protect the public”.

Sheriff McCormack told Ms Hardy she was being admonished on the three charges.

Previously the sheriff was handed a written narration which stated the schoolgirl was the first victim of the dog on Murrayfield Road on March 7 last year.

Passing motorists were said to have been forced to stop and rush to the “terrified and scared” teenager’s aid and she had been left “cowering on the pavement” following the attack.

Pensioner Jane Humphreys suffered injuries including a loss of “a significant amount of skin to her upper arm” as well as bite marks to her legs.

The OAP is said to have been left traumatised due to being “unable to get the image of herself lying on the road being bitten by the dog out of her mind”.

The sheriff was told third victim Fiona McHale had just dropped her child off at a nearby school when was set upon and attacked by the animal on May 3 last year.

Ms Hardy pleaded guilty to being the owner of the Tibetan Mastiff, known as Teddy, which was dangerously out of control and untethered and unmuzzled when it lunged at and bit a 17-year-old girl on March 7 this year.

She also admitted to similar charges involving victims Fiona McHale and Jane Humphreys on May 3 and October 12. All three attacks took place at the capital’s Murrayfield Road.

The Tibetan Mastiff was originally bred in the Far East to protect livestock from attacks by wolves, leopards, tigers and bears.

The male mastiffs can reach up to heights of 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh up to 200lbs and the breed is described as being devoted to their family but territorial with strangers.