A PENSIONER has been ordered to keep his dog on a muzzle after it attacked a postman delivering a parcel at his home.

Terrence Allan, 74, of Chapel Garth, Dalton, Thirsk, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control after the rescued Rottweiler, Barney, sank its teeth into the forearm of a postman on December 4, 2014.

Prosecutor Michael Hammond told Northallerton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, February 27, that the postman had knocked on the door to deliver a parcel.

He said: “He was aware the dog lived there and that it was usually secured in the front room.

“When Mr Allan opened the door, the dog pushed past him and bit the postman on the left wrist and forearm.”

The dog let go when commanded to by Allan – but the postman was left with five skin piercing teeth marks and had to have medical attention and a tetanus injection, plus antibiotics.

The Rottweiler, which Allan got from the Blue Cross rescue centre about four years ago, was described as a “temperamental” animal that barks at strangers and other dogs.

Nick Woodhouse, mitigating, said Allan had owned dogs for more than 20 years and had worked with them while in the Armed Forces.

He said: “Mr Allan has an outside postbox, but on this occasion he had not realised the dog wasn’t secure in the front room.”

Allan was given a contingent destruction order – meaning Barney will have to be kept on a muzzle in all public places – and was fined £230, with £23 surcharge, costs of £85 and £200 compensation.