A West Bay man has been sentenced to 40 hours of community service after his dog bit a man on the finger, setting off a chain of events that led to the loss of both the defendant’s two pets.
Luis Armando Villegas Pillajo, listened through a translator on Monday 9 Jan., as prosecutor Hema Soondarsingh recounted the facts of the 21 Sept. 2021 incident.
“At 9:47am two officers were dispatched to complaints regarding ferocious dogs along Topsail Street, West Bay,” Soondarsignh told the court, explaining “The victim was walking his dog when he was charged by two dogs, one white dog and a black mixed pitbull dog. Upon being attacked he swung a stick and the black pitbull bit him on his index finger.”
The court heard that the dogs soon retreated to a house nearby, and a short time later Pillajo appeared and spoke with the victim.
“The defendant said the fence had been damaged during the passage of Tropical Storm Grace and offered to pay for the victim’s medical expenses,” said the prosecutor.
Attorney John Furniss, who represents Pillajo, told the court that the attack was an isolated incident that caused his client great emotional distress.
“If we could put things into context, this was really an injury that resulted from trying to part a dog fight,” said Furniss. “Things have been extremely hard for my client, who loves animals and adopted both dogs from the Humane Society for his children, so the dogs could be a part of his family.”
Furniss added, “However, a short time after the attack, the black dog died, not of anything sinister, and Mr. Pillajo then gave up the white dog because he didn’t want to get into any trouble.”
When returning her verdict Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez expressed her sympathy for what she considered a sad case.
“I have seen the pictures of the dogs playing with the children, and sitting patiently waiting in the car while out shopping,” said Hernandez. “I have read the reports and seen that the neighbours in the area all say they have never had any problems with the defendant or those dogs, so it is a pity that he has lost both of his animals which I know meant a lot to him and his family.”
A sentence of 40 community hours was imposed, with the condition that they be completed within six months and no conviction was recorded.
When releasing Pillajo, Hernandez said, “I hope that they allow you to do your community service with the Humane Society so that you and your family are able to at least walk the dogs and be reunited with the animals you so clearly love and cherish.”
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