Dog charity boss sues for £200,000 after being mauled

Amanageratthecountry’sbiggestdogwelfarecharityisclaiming£200,000afterbeingmauledbya“fierceandmischievous”bulldogcross. LawyersfortheinsurersoftheDogsTrusthavetoldajudgethatthecharityhasadmittedthatitbreacheditsdutyofcaretoKarlaHaines,34,aftershewasattackedbyanAmericanbulldogcalledJester. ButtheinsurancecompanyhasgonetocourttochallengetheamountofcompensationthatitmustpayHaines,whoworkedasanassistantoperationsmanageratthetrust’sre-homingcentreinwestLondon. ThecourtwastoldthatHainessufferedmultiplelacerationsandpuncturewoundsaftertheanimalbitherarm,whichleftpermanentscarringandcausedpsychologicalinjuries. Haineshasblamedthetrustforallegedlyfailingtocontrolthedog,whichwassaidtohavebeenknowntobeterritorialand“likely”tobite. Thecharitywasfoundedin1891byLadyGertrudeStock,aScottisharistocratandnovelist,andwasuntil2003knownastheNationalCanineDefenceLeague. ItscentreatHighwayFarmHouseissetin16acresoffarmlandandcaresforabout150dogs