Canadian Press, Sep. 6, 2002
http://www.canada.com/
WINNIPEG — A dog that bit a Jehovah’s Witness minister after she ignored Beware of Dog signs has been spared a death sentence by a Winnipeg court.
Piotr Skawinski, the dog’s owner, testified he had two visible warning signs up the day that Ethel Mannetje walked into his back yard.
He also says his six-year-old Labrador-German shepherd cross named Boss has never bitten anyone before and is good with children.
Skawinski says the woman had been going door-to-door for years and should have known to look for a Beware of Dog sign.
Judge Marvin Garfinkel agreed and dismissed a rare discretionary application by the City of Winnipeg to destroy the dog.
Mannetje told court that on June 15th she was going from door to door doing Bible education work when she went into the back yard of the Skawinski home.
Mannetje’s injuries required skin grafts to repair and she spent 17 days in hospital.