On April 6th 2017, a man claimed Ralphy "bit him" when out at a local field - the fact Ralphy was wearing a muzzle, harness and was on a lead didn't put the man off making an allegation to the Police. I was arrested (subsequently fired from my job because of this) and charged with being the person responsible for a dog dangerously out of control. The guy has done this because I have fallen out with people he knows and I guess its a kind of payback, get at my dogs who i love so much.

The guy had a very small red mark, clearly sustained from a thorn bush or something similar. We went to the Magistrate's court on 29th November 2017 and despite the fact that the guy could not describe the dog who allegedly bit him and his whole testimony was made up with a series of impossible events, I was unbelievably found guilty and hit with a fine, costs, etc etc to the tune of £650. I appealed to the Crown Court, simply because Ralphy always wears a muzzle and the whole thing was ridiculous and impossible. The Crown Court dismissed my appeal on 11th May 2018 and whacked another £250 costs on top - even the prosecuting barrister was overheard saying to the guy "I wouldn't have believed you" (after the verdict had been given) - so even the prosecution agreed with me.

Somehow the judge, in his wisdom, believed that Ralphy a brindle lurcher who wears a muzzle, was in fact a grey lurcher with streaks of white, who wasn't wearing a muzzle, which was the description of the dog given by the guy - jumped up and bit the guy whilst the guy was running and created a small red mark - so a 30kg, powerful lurcher with 42 pointy teeth and a bite of 250 psi would have only left a small red mark after clamping his jaws on the guy's arm? The guy claimed to be running and that the dog contact did not knock him out of stride, or spin him around or anything, those of you who have had a dog jump up at you, will realise what nonsense that is - yes this is all as unbelievable as it sounds.

Up to this point i have self represented in court, for the simple reason that i cannot afford proper representation and apparently i earn too much for legal aid! So once again justice is only available to those who can afford it, which is why we have this page. I need to keep fighting for Ralphy and get proper justice for him, he has got the rough end of the stick because a human made an allegation against him, for something he did not do and he is unable to answer back! Those dog lovers out there, especially those who have had lurchers or any other sighthounds, know just how gentle and placid they are (unless you are a small furry animal!). I have never heard of a sighthound biting a passerby, especially whilst wearing a muzzle! Ralphy needs money for a proper defence in court and to be offered proper justice!