A mother expressed dissatisfaction with a court ruling following a brutal dog attack that left her daughter with a serious leg injury necessitating surgery. The incident took place at Beibio playing park in Holyhead on August 24, 2025.
Bethan Farr, 51, residing in Peibio Close, Holyhead, faced Caernarfon Magistrates Court on Monday, January 18. She received a 12-month suspended sentence after admitting to having control of a dog that was dangerously out of control, causing harm. Additionally, she was directed to pay £500 in compensation and fulfill rehabilitation activity obligations. The dog, referred to as a “pocket bully” by the mother, was ordered to be put down.
The victim’s mother, under a reporting restriction preventing her identification, criticized the verdict as “frustrating” and felt disappointed by the justice system. She disclosed that her daughter underwent two surgeries and spent days in the hospital following the traumatic incident.
Narrating the attack, the mother recounted how her daughter, aged eight at the time, was playing with friends when a dog approached. Despite not fearing dogs, the child began petting it. However, when another child arrived to resume their game, the dog chased after her and grabbed onto her clothing, then her ankle, dragging her around for several minutes.
The assault was captured on CCTV footage. The child was eventually rescued by a friend and taken to a nearby residence before being rushed to Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley in Holyhead and later to Ysbyty Gwynedd Bangor for medical attention.
Describing the severity of the injuries, the mother stated they were alarmed by the wounds on her daughter’s leg and rushed her to the hospital for treatment, where she underwent two surgeries and received pain relief.
Despite the ordeal, the young girl has shown resilience and underwent therapy to regain confidence around dogs. She now bears a scar on her leg, affectionately dubbed her “shark bite” war wound by the family.
Expressing disappointment with the sentence, the mother criticized the courts for what she perceived as a lenient outcome. She emphasized the importance of helping her daughter understand the seriousness of the incident while ensuring she felt supported throughout the process.
