Police shoot dog dead after two men attacked in Hamilton

Police shot a "large bulldog-type" dog dead after it attacked a man

Police have shot and killed a dog after it attacked two men in Hamilton.

Officers went to the Tinto View area at about 17:00 on Tuesday to deal with the "dangerously out-of-control" animal.

One man was taken to hospital with serious injuries following the incident involving a "large bulldog-type dog", but it is not yet known if it was an XL Bully.

Police said the dog had tried to attack an officer and had been shot dead by armed police.

One eyewitness described the scene as "brutal".

A second man was also injured by the dog on Loudon Hill Avenue shortly beforehand and was taken to Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, for treatment for minor injuries.

He was walking to the shops when the dog made an unprovoked attack on him. The man has now returned home after hospital treatment.

Victim was 'slipping unconscious'

Kevin Pace witnessed the attack from his kitchen window.

He told BBC Scotland News: "There was a commotion outside - the dog was barking and growling and the two guys were screaming.

"I think the first guy had been bitten and the other guy was trying to get him off.

"Eventually they got the dog off him but then the dog turned on his owner and grabbed hold of him and just didn't let go. It was pretty brutal."

Mr Pace, who does not believe the animal was an XL Bully, said he had previously seen the dog with its owner in passing but it "seemed quiet enough".

He added that the dog was on its lead at the time of the attack.

"When the police arrived, they were trying to keep the owner awake because he kept slipping unconscious," he said. "He'd lost a lot of blood and had serious injuries.

"They tasered the dog once but that didn't work and the armed police turned up and that worked."

When asked if he thought the dog could have killed someone, he said: "Yes, it could've easily killed somebody."

Screaming for help

An eyewitness, who wants to remain anonymous, said the whole attack lasted around 40 minutes.

They first heard a commotion and went outside and saw a dog with its teeth on a man's arm.

"The guy was screaming for help shouting 'it's going to kill me'," they said.

People nearby tried to intervene, with one neighbour throwing a bucket of water in the dog's face which forced it to let go.

"The police arrived quickly and told us to get inside," they said. "We did and then I heard five really loud bangs - it sounded like fireworks".

Police officers at the scene have been reassuring the public the danger has now passed.

Armed police were called out to the Tinto View area of Hamilton

Supt Steven Espie said it was a "contained incident" and there was no further risk to the public.

He said there would be a continued police presence in the area and inquiries were ongoing to determine the breed of the dog involved.

Police added that as with any incident in which a firearm was discharged it would be referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc).

The incident follows another dog attack on Wednesday 17 January in Aberdeen.

Former football manager Dave Watson, 73, and a 70-year-old woman were treated in hospital after a dog attack in the Dyce area of the city.

Police said inquires were ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

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Local councillor Gavin Wylie Keatt said it was an "awful situation for everybody involved".

He added: "I think it's important that the police do establish the breed of the dog so we can look at further legislation in terms of ownership and breeding of dangerous dogs."

Community safety minister Siobhian Brown said her thoughts were with the victims of the "distressing" attack.

She said: "Such incidents illustrate the importance of responsible dog ownership and effective enforcement by local authorities and Police Scotland of relevant laws."

The Scottish government announced plans to "replicate" UK laws banning XL bully dogs without a licence earlier in January.

It had faced growing calls to fall in line with restrictions on the breed south of the border, which came into force on 31 December.

High-profile attacks

New UK laws banned the breeding, selling or abandonment of the dogs in England and Wales.

Dogs must also be kept muzzled and on a lead while in public.

XL bully dogs have been involved in several high-profile attacks where their owners or bystanders were mauled or even killed.

The UK government said the breed was "disproportionately involved" in a recent increase in deaths by dog attacks since the start of 2021.

However, there has been some difficulty in identifying the dogs and they are not recognised as a specific breed by the UK Kennel Club.

Some XL Bully owners have also argued that the dogs are being unfairly singled out as other breeds which are not being banned have also been responsible for attacks on people.

The UK government has published guidance to help identify XL bullies and describes them as large dogs "with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for its size".

The Scottish SPCA previously said Scotland had been used as a "dumping ground" for the breed after the UK laws were introduced.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said the new rules had been announced without consultation with the Scottish government.

The Scottish legislation will come in to force at a later date.