A WHITE American bulldog on death row for killing a blind and deaf poodle was yesterday spared execution. Bruiser was given one last chance after owner Peter Kenneth Woodfin pleaded for his pet's life. The powerful dog attacked and killed 14-year-old poodle Jaffa. He was shaken "like a rag doll", left covered in blood and died of his injuries, district judge Andrew Shaw heard. Last night Margaret Thomas, who was looking after Jaffa at the time, said she was devastated by the decision. The judge ordered Bruiser must be muzzled and kept on a lead when out in public. Mrs Thomas, of Barmouth Close, Connah's Quay, said: "I am absolutely devastated. I was looking after Jaffa while my son Tim and his wife Debbie went Christmas shopping in Chester. "Jaffa was a lovely gentle dog. He was killed in a horrible way." Woodfin was convicted of owning a dangerous dog in his absence after he failed to turn up for the Flintshire magistrates' court trial. Judge Shaw, who was shown photographs of Bruiser licking Woodfin's two young children and wearing a Christmas hat, gave him one last chance. "I am satisfied that on the day in question your dog did kill another dog," the judge said. He accepted Woodfin was not with the dog at the time, there was no evidence the dog had bitten anyone before and Bruiser was kept as a family pet. "I give you one chance and I will not make a destruction order," he said. Woodfin was also ordered to pay £150 prosecution costs. The judge also suggested he should write a letter of apology to Jaffa's owner. Woodfin told the court his memory was affected since an accident when an overhead hook at a slaughterhouse where he worked fractured his skull. He had forgotten the date of the trial but claimed Bruiser was not dangerous. Woodfin produced family photographs of the dog. He said: "I cannot excuse what happened. He may have thought the poodle was a rabbit or something, I don't know. But I don't want to lose him." The court heard there was a confrontation between the complainant and a person described as the dog owner who did not appear to care what had happened. But 31-year-old Woodfin, of Hillside Avenue, Connah's Quay, said he was at work at the time. It may have been his partner who got "a bit chopsy", he said. | 
