Overview

• Karla Haines suffered multiple lacerations, puncture wounds, permanent scarring and PTSD-like symptoms after a bulldog named Jester attacked her at the Harefield rehoming centre in July 2021.
• At a pre-trial hearing this month, Haines’s legal team increased her High Court claim from an initial £60,000 valuation to over £200,000.
• Dogs Trust’s insurers have accepted breaching their duty of care but are contesting the size of the compensation award.
• Haines alleges the charity failed to restrain Jester properly despite knowing his territorial and aggressive tendencies.
• Unless the parties settle out of court, a hearing later this year will determine the exact damages to be awarded.