A canine home chief is suing an animal charity for more than £200,000 after she was ‘mauled’ by an American Bulldog in an attack she says left her with PTSD.
Karla Haines, 34, was working at the Dogs Trust’s rehoming centre in Harefield, west London, when what has been described as a ‘fierce and mischievous’ bulldog cross named Jester sank its teeth into her arm.
Ms Haines suffered multiple lacerations and puncture wounds, leaving permanent scarring and causing psychological injuries with ‘PTSD-like symptoms,’ her lawyers say.
She is now suing the Dogs Trust, where she was assistant operations manager, for more than £200,000 in compensation – blaming the organisation for not properly controlling the territorial dog who she says was ‘likely’ to bite.
Through its insurers, the Trust – Britain’s largest canine welfare charity – has admitted breach of duty, but is challenging the amount in damages Ms Haines should get.
According to documents filed at the High Court in London, the incident involved an attack by an American Bulldog cross named Jester which was being kept at the Trust’s centre at Highway Farm House, in Harefield, Uxbridge.
The centre is set in 16 acres of farmland and looks after around 150 dogs in facilities which include underfloor heating, glass fronted kennels, exercise paddocks, a puppy suite and sensory garden.
‘On 3 July 2021, the claimant was in the re-homing concrete compound, having been brought in to help with the dog that was misbehaving,’ her lawyers say in court documents.
‘The claimant asked for the dog to be put on a lead, but the dog grabbed onto the claimant’s arm and bit her.
‘The dog is and was of a fierce and mischievous disposition and/or was likely, unless restrained, to bite anyone on the defendant’s premises or to cause severe injury when defending what it regarded as its own territory, which characteristics were, or ought to have been known at all times to the defendant.’
As well as the scarring and mental trauma of her ordeal, Ms Haines – who has a degree in animal behaviour and welfare – says she has been left suffering with ‘hypersensitivity of the cubital tunnel of her right arm’ after the attack.
Her lawyers allege that her employers failed ‘adequately or at all to retain the dog in a place of safety’ and should have restrained Jester by leashing to a fixed point.
Although its insurers have admitted breach of duty without admitting any specific fault, the trust insists Miss Haines was on Jester’s ‘safe list’ – meaning she was one of the few who could safely handle him.
The charity’s solicitor Chrissie Paphitis said: ‘It is averred that Jester had been placed on a lead prior to the claimant entering the compound.
‘It is admitted that Jester nevertheless grabbed onto the claimant’s arm and bit her.’
‘The injuries as pleaded and detailed in the numerous reports are noted but not admitted, for want of knowledge.
‘No admissions are made in respect of causation, and the claimant is put to strict proof in relation to any and all allegations of loss and damage.’
The claim was initially pleaded on documents at being worth no more than £60,000.
However, at a brief pre-trial hearing earlier this month, lawyers for Ms Haines told High Court judge Master Richard Armstrong she was now seeking compensation of ‘over £200,000’.
A trial of Ms Haines’ damages claim will take place at a later date, unless the parties agree to settle outside of court.
