A puzzled sheriff said he can’t understand why anyone would want to own “violent and aggressive” pocket bully dogs.
Sheriff John Hamilton made the comment after hearing that a man was mauled by a pup he had planned to buy.
Owner Agnieska Malarczyk was fined £350 when she admitted that one-year-old Tyson was dangerously out of control in Motherwell.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that a man contacted Malarczyk, 47, through social media after learning that the pocket bully was for sale.
Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said: “He met the accused at her home and approached the dog which lashed out and tried to bite his arm.
“The man stepped back and Tyson then latched on to his right thigh and tore at his trousers.
“He tried to pull the dog away but it kept hold of him and he had to remove his trousers to break free.
“Throughout this the owner failed to control Tyson and, when challenged, stated ‘What do you want me to do about it?’
“The man left without buying the dog. He had teeth marks on his thigh and what is described as significant bruising.”
The court heard that Malarczyk, of Kylemore Crescent, Motherwell, had Tyson put down after the attack on August 13 last year.
After hearing details of the case, Sheriff Hamilton asked: “Why would you buy a pocket bully? They seem to be violent and aggressive as demonstrated by Tyson’s conduct.”
Defence lawyer Ian Scott said it appeared the dog had been “mistreated” by a previous male owner.
He stated: “As a result Tyson was afraid of men and its behaviour towards them was hostile. That’s why it behaved in this way.
“My client had other dogs in the household and Tyson didn’t get on with them so she decided to sell.”
Earlier this year the Scottish Government announced tight controls on XL bully dogs following a number of serious attacks.
Owners must now have a certificate for their animal and it’s illegal to breed or sell them. They must be muzzled and on a lead when in public.
The new rules don’t extend to pocket bully dogs.
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