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American Staffordshire Terrier (symbolic image)
Photo: Philipp Schulze / dpa
In Austria, a dog owner was sentenced to 15 months in prison for a fatal bite attack by her three American Staffordshire Terriers.
Ten months of this were suspended by the Linz regional court.
The final verdict was handed down on Thursday for gross negligent homicide.
In October 2023, the three dogs attacked a 60-year-old jogger while the owner was walking her and injured her so badly that she died on site.
“I take full responsibility,” said the 38-year-old dog owner in court.
She tragically failed to maintain control of the animals at all times.
The defense attorney said his client was still very upset about what happened.
20,000 euros in compensation for widower and son
The public prosecutor accused the owner of overestimating herself.
The prosecutor said she was unable to control the three animals, which weighed a total of 72 kilograms.
The widower and the son were each awarded 20,000 euros in compensation.
The bestial manner in which the woman died would not even be wished on an enemy, said the relatives' lawyer.
American Staffordshire Terriers are often classified as fighting dogs.
In Germany there is a so-called breed list, which is why the legal term list dogs is also used.
This classification of certain breeds is controversial
.
It is based on the assumption that some breeds are born more aggressive than others.
Critics of the lists dispute this.
Which dogs are considered dangerous is regulated differently in the federal states.
But in most cases, Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, pit bulls, bull terriers and mixed breeds of these breeds are on the list.
In Austria, too, the relevant regulations vary from federal state to federal state.
bbr/dpa