Woman devastated after Chihuahua killed by 'XL bully'

Gizmo was a two-year-old long-haired Chihuahua

A dog owner says she is devastated after watching her Chihuahua killed in an attack by an "XL bully" type dog in Glasgow

Abby McKinnon, 25, was bitten on her shoulder during the attack on her two-year-old pet Gizmo.

She said the owner of two large dogs had one on a lead and harness, while the other was free, before the incident in the city's Bridgeton area on Tuesday.

Scotland followed the UK in introducing new restrictions on XL bully-type dogs last month.

Ms McKinnon told BBC Scotland News she was on her afternoon walk with Gizmo on Finnart Street at around 16:00 when the attack happened.

The dog that was off lead approached her from behind and began biting the tail of her long-haired chihuahua.

Ms McKinnon said the owner made little attempt to help despite her "screaming for help".

She said: "I was turning my back to the dog to try and keep Gizmo away from him, and the dog jumped up and bit my back, just under my left shoulder blade and managed to get gizmo out of my hands.

"I could see the dog biting into him.

"I was trying to open the dog's mouth, I was pulling at its fur trying to get it off my dog, but I couldn’t."

Ms McKinnon said she is "angry, upset and frustrated" after losing Gizmo

Ms McKinnon said she could see puncture wounds on her dog and “saw him take his last breath”.

She said the owner then approached and managed to get the dog on a harness.

She said she hid in a garden until a passer-by came to her aid.

Ms McKinnon: "Pet loss is hard enough never mind having to watch your pet die in front of you.

"He was just two years old, a healthy dog. He had such a good life and in 10 minutes this man and his dog's have ripped every single bit of that away," she said.

She described Gizmo as a "loving, gentle wee dog"

Under the new laws on XL-bullies, their breeding and sale is now banned, while those already kept as pets must be muzzled in public places.

The legislation was introduced in Scotland after the breed was linked to a string of serious attacks.

Ms McKinnon said the new legislation was a “good idea” but wants to see it go further requiring all dogs to be on a lead in public .

She added: "I feel angry, upset and frustrated at the fact this was so preventable.

"Had the owner taken the right steps he could have prevented this. He had no control over the dogs."

Police Scotland is appealing for information about the incident.

A force spokesperson said it has been reported locally the animals involved were "XL Bully type dogs", however this had yet to be confirmed.

Sgt Bobby Fisher said inquiries were ongoing to establish the exact circumstances and to trace the owner of the dogs.

Anyone with information has been urged to get in contact.

Incident Room: XL Bully Ban, What Next?

Watch now on BBC iPlayer (UK only).