THE owner of a dog that savaged a delivery driver has spoken out to defend himself.
Tony Quinn, whose Akita called Lucky bit Hull driver Derek Brady when he was on his rounds, says there were warning signs on display.
Mr Brady won more than £10,000 in compensation after the Japanese fighting dog ripped his right calf, leaving him physically and emotionally scarred.
Mr Quinn hand-reared Lucky and fed him using a syringe while the rest of the litter was sold on to close friends.
He said: "I do feel sorry for Mr Brady but there were signs telling him not to go on the property with the dog there.
"I had also warned him three weeks before when I was outside and he was delivering a parcel.
"I told him Lucky didn't know who he was and although he'd never bitten anyone, it wasn't a good idea to go near him."
Mr Quinn, 41, has six children under the age of ten. They live with him and his partner in a six-bedroom house in the village of Gransmoor, near Bridlington.
Lucky was kept on a 4m chain at the front of the house.
Mr Brady had left two parcels in Mr Quinn's shed when he realised the owners were not in. He was writing a card when Lucky suddenly gripped his leg and sunk his teeth in, leaving him with a 6in wound.
Mr Brady had to have counselling for two years after suffering flashbacks and nightmares about the attack, which happened in May 2010.
Mr Quinn said: "I had taken our baby to the hospital and was on my way back when I saw two ambulances outside the house.
"I thought my elderly neighbour was ill but then I was told what had happened.
"The first thing I said was 'why did he go in when there is a sign on the front gate?'
"Police officers at the time couldn't understand it either but our dog was taken that morning and we never saw him again.
"He was gone for six months and I thought we might get him back. My children were all asking where he was.
"I was told three weeks after he was put down what had happened and my children were very upset.
"But they knew he had done something wrong and that he shouldn't have bitten Mr Brady."
Mr Quinn said when he was first contacted about compensation he was told he was not covered on his home insurance.
"We later found out we were and now my insurance has tripled," he said.
"I am a responsible dog owner. Even though the lead was 4m long and Lucky could reach the gates, it was still private property.
"He was boisterous, like any two-year-old dog in his prime, but he had never harmed anyone.
"We've now bought the children a new dog, an English bull terrier, but I have nothing against Akitas.
"I don't think they should be included in the Dangerous Dogs Act at all. They are great pets and I wouldn't have had them when I had children if I had any doubts."
Mr Brady, of Kingswood, declined to comment last night but previously told the Mail: "I can't understand why anybody would want one as a pet.
"It appeared placid so I thought I would be okay but it suddenly came out of nowhere.
"I'm pleased to have won the financial settlement to compensate for all the pain and trauma I suffered.
"But there's still quite a noticeable scar and I'll have this for the rest of my life."
