Pensioner's six-inch-tall Yorkshire Terrier Albert is freed from death row after being locked up as a dangerous dog for biting a postie - even though it only has four teeth

  • Ann Anderson, 77, was distraught when three police officers took her dog away
  • Albert was given a control order for nipping neighbour in Epson, Surrey, in April
  • Officers said he broke this in July by biting letters out of the postie's hands
  • Magistrates on Friday upheld order forcing him to wear a muzzle but set him free 

By Rory Tingle For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A pensioner's six-inch-tall Yorkshire Terrier Albert has been freed from death row after being locked up as a dangerous dog for biting a postie - even though he only has four teeth.

Ann Anderson, 77, was distraught when two police officers and a sergeant arrived at her door to 'arrest' the six-year-old pooch in August, after he nipped the female postal worker while she was delivering the mail.

The grandmother was hauled before magistrates on Friday to defend her tiny terrier, who has spent the last three months sitting in the dog pound awaiting his fate, which could have included being put down.

Ann Anderson, 77
Albert the Yorkshire Terrier

Ann Anderson, 77, (left) was distraught when two police officers and a sergeant arrived at her door to 'arrest' the six-year-old pooch (right) in August. Photos undated 

Albert was already in the dog house for biting a neighbour last April in Epson, Surrey, after which police put him under a control order forcing him to always be on a lead and wear a muzzle when in public.

Addressing the court, Mrs Anderson admitted to being in charge of a dangerous dog and magistrates upheld the original order.

The pensioner wept in the court when she heard the ruling, because she feared Albert was going to be put down.

'I have been lost without him - he means the world to me,' she said. 'The little dog just liked to sit with me and just watch everything go by. I have missed him day and night, I haven't slept or eaten properly.'

She was threatened with arrest back in July when police came to seize the six-inch-tall terrier following the complaint.

Mrs Anderson, who has lived alone since her husband died more than 30 years ago, had initially refused to hand over Albert, her companion of the last three years, after he was captured on CCTV taking the letters.

The grandmother was hauled before magistrates on Friday to defend her tiny terrier, (pictured) who has spent the last three months sitting in the dog pound awaiting his fate. Undated photo 

The grandmother was hauled before magistrates on Friday to defend her tiny terrier, (pictured) who has spent the last three months sitting in the dog pound awaiting his fate. Undated photo 

On August 24, Ann was at home when two police officers and a sergeant arrived on her doorstep and demanded she hand over her beloved companion, after it was claimed she broke her dog control measures put in place after the incident in April.

Prosecuting, Darren Matravers said: 'Police were called after the dog was seen out the front of Mrs Anderson's house.

'The dog was seen approaching the postwoman before biting the letters out of her hand. I am asking the court to make a control order.'

Defending, Pamela Rose told the court: 'There are so many positive testimonies for Albert - he is harmless and pretty toothless. The past three months have been very trying for Mrs Anderson.

'It is clear that these months have been a penalty in itself - she had experienced heartache and stress. This is the worst kind of sentence that any court could have imposed.

'Mrs Anderson now has a criminal conviction in relation to this. The court should not have to deal with such minor offences at all.'

A petition to save Albert had reached almost 65,000 signatures online.

Magistrate Ann Terry said: 'We will make a court order in the same way as the previous police order.

'That will be put in place as a control order which is effective from today. The court order can be taken to the police station and the dog can be retrieved.'

Mrs Anderson was also fined £100 and ordered to pay an extra £85 in court costs.

Speaking outside court, she said: 'How much time and public money has this whole thing wasted? I am just glad to have my Albert back, I would have gone to prison instead of him.

'Arthur has had a difficult life, he has had two previous owners and I saved him and nursed him back to health.' 

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