The partner of a breeder specializing in XL Bully dogs expressed distress over the events that transpired when her dogs were shot following an incident where one of them fatally attacked an elderly man who had entered her garden by mistake.
Lauren Lawler voiced regret, stating that her dogs would have been alive if the victim, John McColl, had not intruded into her property. Her partner, Sean Garner, 31, was convicted of owning a dog that was dangerously out of control and led to the death of McColl at Liverpool Crown Court recently.
The tragic incident occurred on Bardsley Avenue in Warrington on February 24 last year, as Mr. McColl unintentionally entered Garner’s driveway while returning from a local pub.
During the attack, one of the dogs named Toretto attacked the 84-year-old man, with neighbors attempting to fend off the banned breed using various objects like a brush, golf club, and spirit level upon hearing McColl’s cries for help.
Law enforcement was called to the scene, where an officer shot the XL Bully nine times with a pistol, while another officer used a shotgun to neutralize the dog. Additionally, a second XL Bully named Malibu was also shot and killed on the premises as a precautionary measure, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
Following Garner’s conviction, his girlfriend, Lauren Lawler, took to Facebook to criticize the police and authorities, labeling them as corrupt individuals. She posted images of Malibu and Toretto, questioning their treatment and condemning the actions of the police.
Expressing her anguish, Lawler defended her dogs, emphasizing that they were well cared for and had never shown aggression before the tragic incident. She highlighted the unjust treatment of her pets by the authorities.
Lawler, who was arrested following the attack, shared images of broken glass and bloodstains in the house where Malibu was reportedly shot, portraying the aftermath of the fatal confrontation.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Toretto had been deprived of food for extended periods and had not been taken for walks for weeks. Garner claimed to have confined the unregistered XL Bully in a shed prior to leaving the house that day.
Witnesses recounted the harrowing scene, with a neighbor describing the dog’s violent behavior and the victim’s screams, while a police officer expressed shock at the severity of the injuries sustained by Mr. McColl.
Garner, a dog breeder who operated an Instagram page named “Little and Large Bullies,” maintained that Toretto’s behavior was exemplary and insinuated that the victim had intentionally released the dog from the shed, a claim dismissed by the prosecution as baseless.
Garner, residing in Belle Vale, was remanded in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on April 17.
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