Dog injured 'grabbing shop leaflets'

Dog injured 'grabbing shop leaflets'

Safeway has passed the matter on to its insurers

The owners of a dog which allegedly injured itself grabbing a supermarket's advertising leaflets from a letterbox are claiming compensation.

Retired businessman Gordon Musselwhite and his wife, Susan, maintain six-year-old dachshund Muffin injured himself leaping for Safeway leaflets delivered to the door of their home in Yealmpton, Devon.

The Musselwhites say Muffin is still on painkillers after the incident in December 2001.

Safeway has said that the case was being dealt with by its insurers.

They do not even have to admit liability

Gordon Musselwhite

Mr Musselwhite said when they arrived home on the day of the incident, their pet was on the floor of the hallway paralysed from the shoulders down and could only drag himself along.

There were teeth marks on the leaflets protruding through the letterbox. Muffin underwent surgery to have a disc removed in a "horrendous" operation which left the couple "devastated".

Mr Musselwhite said Muffin had to be taught to walk again but still could not do so properly and that he sent Safeway a video of Muffin after the dog had his operation.

He said there had been no need for anyone to come up his 140 foot-long drive to deliver the leaflets as he had erected a large post box by the front gate.

Claims court

Mr Musselwhite is claiming £2,300 in vet bills and legal expenses from Safeway.

He said: "They do not even have to admit liability, just make an ex gratia payment."

He said he was considering taking legal action in the small claims court and had the paperwork to do so.

A spokesman for Safeway said that as the matter was in the hands of its insurers he could not make any comment at this stage.