Unmuzzled American pit bull in Cork picked up cockapoo and shook it before biting woman

The dog's owner was fined €700

The court heard that the American pit bull terrier  attacked the small cockapoo dog and picked it up and shook it. File picture: iStock

The owner of an American pit bull terrier dog that attacked another dog while out for a walk has pleaded guilty to two charges in the district court.

Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan told Macroom District Court that a woman was out walking her cockapoo-shih tzu mix near the De La Salle College grounds at 9.35pm on August 19, 2025.

Mariusz Szulhan, aged 49, of Sunnyside, Macroom, Co Cork, was coming in the opposite direction, walking a spaniel-type dog and an American pit bull terrier.

The court heard that Szulhan removed the lead of the pit bull to allow it to walk in a green area and momentarily lost sight of the spaniel, which went off in another direction. 

CCTV evidence showed the pit bull approaching the woman and the cockapoo.

Sgt O’Sullivan said the pit bull attacked the small cockapoo, picking it up and shaking it. Szulhan went to the aid of the woman and they both “ended up on the ground” trying to separate the dogs, which they eventually managed to do.

The court was told the woman was bitten on her left forearm and had to receive medical treatment including painkillers, antibiotics, and a tetanus shot. 

The small dog also had to be treated for puncture wounds. The court heard Szulhan also received injuries himself.

The court was told Szulhan had no previous convictions and only took ownership of the pit bull because it would have been abandoned by its previous owners. 

Szulhan accepted that as a restricted breed, the dog should not have been off the lead and should have been muzzled.

Judge Joanne Carroll said that as Szulhan was pleading guilty, had no previous convictions, and “did at least try to stop it”, she would not impose a suspended sentence. 

For having the dog unmuzzled in a public place, he was fined €350 with four months to pay. For failing to control the dog, he was also fined €350 and given six months to pay the fine.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.