'Aggressive' dog reported to police week before attack

Police were called to the scene at the weekend

Police were called out about a dog acting aggressively a week before it attacked a man and woman, BBC Scotland News has learned.

The dog was destroyed by a vet after armed police were called to the attack in Boddam, Aberdeenshire, on Saturday.

The victims' injuries have been described as serious, but not life-threatening.

It is understood that the previous Saturday, officers had received a report about the dog acting aggressively towards its owner, who did not require any medical treatment and did not request any police assistance.

Several police vehicles were sent to the Claymore Crescent area of Boddam, near Peterhead, at about 16:00 on Saturday after reports of a dog out of control.

The two who were attacked were both taken Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after the incident.

The breed of the dog has not yet been disclosed.

The man, who is understood to have intervened in the attack, sustained injuries to his arm and was undergoing surgery.

Police Scotland confirmed: "The dog has since been destroyed and inquiries remain ongoing."

There have been no arrests or charges.

The circumstances have been referred to Police Scotland’s professional standards department (PSD).

Expert advice

The Scottish SPCA said that if a dog was "immediately dangerous, out of control and attacking a person" then the police should be called.

The animal charity said that if a person thinks a dog may become dangerous, but is not out of control at the actual moment, then the local authority could put an order on the owner to control it in future, such as using a lead and muzzling it in public.

However, it stressed that any immediate risk should be reported to the police.