A homeless man’s dog attacked and bit a woman and a police officer outside Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
The dog, which had been tied up outside the hospital, got loose and bit the woman on November 5 last year, it then bit a police officer..
David Melnicuk, 29, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in connection with the matter. Depute fiscal Sally McAuley said the incident happened at 2.05am.
She said: “Just outside the hospital the complainer was walking near the entrance when she was approached by two dogs barking, causing her alarm.
My understanding is the dogs had been tied up at one point. Neither dog was accompanied by an owner.
“The German Shepherd cross became aggressive and bit the complainer on her arm causing injury to her, for which she required medical treatment.
“Police witnesses were at the entrance and heard the complainer screaming and ran to offer assistance.”
The dog then jumped up and “made an attempt to bite” one of the officers.
Police drew their batons and spray before they eventually managed to bring the dog under control.
Melnicuk was traced within Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and “invited to come out and discuss the matter”.
As a police officer handed Melnicuk a jacket the dog “jumped up and bit him on the arm”. He was not injured.
The woman was left with “minor puncture wounds to her right forearm”.
Melnicuk, whose address was given in court papers as Holburn Road, Aberdeen, pled guilty to being the owner of a dog “dangerously out of control”.
Defence agent Jennifer Pritchard said: “Mr Melnicuk at the time was homeless and living within his car with his two dogs.
“Mr Melnicuk was attacked by an individual whereby he was assaulted with an iron pole and the windows of his car were smashed.
“Police attended and recommended Mr Melnicuk attend the hospital.
“Unfortunately he had nowhere to leave the dogs and took them with him.
“He tells me it is completely out of character for the dog and it was contributed to by the earlier events that evening.”
Ms Pritchard asked for a deferral for a report to be prepared to show if the dog presented a danger to the public.
Sheriff Philip Mann deferred sentence on Melnicuk until January.
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