A pet dog which bit a toddler in the face outside a primary school will not have to be destroyed, a judge has ruled.

But at Carlisle's magistrates' court, District Judge Gerald Chalk said that Domino the springer spaniel will from now on always have to wear a muzzle whenever he is taken out.

The judge considered ordering the dog's destruction but he drew back from that after hearing mitigation for Domino's owner Catherine Pilkington, 41, and after reading a report on the dog from an animal behaviour expert.

At an earlier hearing, Pilkington, of Chiswick Street, Carlisle, admitted being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control in a public place. She was was given a 13 week community order, which includes an 8pm to 7am curfew.

The court heard how Pilkington arrived at Stanwix Primary School with the dog and her baby on September 21 last year.

She was there to collect an older child.

Because dogs are not allowed in the school yard she left Domino tied up at the railings in Church Street outside the school, where parents were gathered with children, while she went inside to get her son.

Katy Dickinson, the toddler who was bitten, was at the school with her mum, also there to collect older children.

The toddler sat down near to Domino, but the dog turned and bit her on her nose, leaving her face covered in blood.

Her parents later said she was left frightened of dogs and unable to sleep.

"Although the injury has healed, she will have faint scarring to her face," said prosecutor Peter Kelly, pointing out that Pilkington had been immediately apologetic about what happened.

Keith Thomas, for Pilkington, said his client was full of remorse but the case had caused her a great deal of stress. Her two older children had asked if it was right that she was going to prison, said the barrister.

Describing the case as "very different" to typical dangerous dog prosecutions, Mr Thomas quoted from the statement of one witness, who said she saw the little girl leaning into the dog's face.

"She appeared to have it pinned down," said the woman.

"Since this date last September she [Pilkington] has not taken the dog to the school again," said Mr Thomas, adding that the dog had reacted to the girl's actions rather than attacked her.

He added: "The defendant is a very caring and responsible woman."

Passing sentence, Judge Chalk told Pilkington: "Everyone is ignoring the obvious: that keeping an animal is a choice and you are keeping an animal which is capable of causing great damage.

"It may be loveable to you but it is also a creature which is capable of doing damage. I'm afraid a lot of dog owners don't appreciate that not all the population like dogs.

"Owners have to take responsibility."

He added:"I don't appreciate the suggestion that the child is in any way to blame."

The judge said Pilkington could be excused from her curfew for three pre-planned holiday and social events which she had notified to the court. She must also pay costs and a victim surcharge of £115.

After the case, Katy's dad Aaron Dickinson, 36, from Stanwix, said he had been annoyed at the suggestion that his daughter was to blame.


Related: Girl bitten in face by dog outside Carlisle primary school