Police shoot canine useless after two males attacked in Hamilton

Police have shot and killed a canine after it attacked two males in Hamilton.

Officers went to the Tinto View space at about 17:00 on Tuesday to take care of the “dangerously out-of-control” animal.

One man was taken to hospital with critical accidents following the incident involving a “massive bulldog-type canine”, however it isn’t but identified if it was an XL Bully.

Police stated the canine had tried to attack an officer and had been shot useless by armed police.

One eyewitness described the scene as “brutal”.

A second man was additionally injured by the canine on Loudon Hill Avenue shortly beforehand and was taken to Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, for remedy for minor accidents.

He was walking to the outlets when the canine made an unprovoked attack on him. The man has now returned home after hospital remedy.

Kevin Pace witnessed the attack from his kitchen window.

He advised BBC Scotland News: “There was a commotion outdoors – the canine was barking and growling and the 2 guys had been screaming.

“I feel the primary man had been bitten and the opposite man was attempting to get him off.

“Eventually they bought the canine off him however then the canine turned on his proprietor and grabbed maintain of him and simply did not let go. It was fairly brutal.”

Mr Pace, who doesn’t imagine the animal was an XL Bully, stated he had beforehand seen the canine with its proprietor in passing but it surely “appeared quiet sufficient”.

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

“When the police arrived, they had been attempting to maintain the proprietor awake as a result of he stored slipping unconscious,” he stated. “He’d misplaced a number of blood and had critical accidents.

“They tasered the canine as soon as however that did not work and the armed police turned up and that labored.”

When requested if he thought the canine might have killed somebody, he stated: “Yes, it might’ve simply killed any person.”

An eyewitness, who needs to stay nameless, stated the entire attack lasted round 40 minutes.

They first heard a commotion and went outdoors and noticed a canine with its tooth on a person’s arm.

“The man was screaming for assist shouting ‘it will kill me’,” they stated.

People close by tried to intervene, with one neighbour throwing a bucket of water within the canine’s face which compelled it to let go.

“The police arrived shortly and advised us to get inside,” they stated. “We did after which I heard 5 actually loud bangs – it appeared like fireworks”.

Police officers on the scene have been reassuring the general public the hazard has now handed.

Supt Steven Espie stated it was a “contained incident” and there was no additional threat to the general public.

He stated there can be a continued police presence within the space and inquiries had been ongoing to find out the breed of the canine concerned.

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

Former soccer supervisor Dave Watson, 73, and a 70-year-old girl had been handled in hospital after a canine attack within the Dyce space of the town.

Police stated inquires had been ongoing to ascertain the complete circumstances.

Local councillor Gavin Wylie Keatt stated it was an “terrible scenario for everyone concerned”.

He added: “I feel it is necessary that the police do set up the breed of the canine so we are able to have a look at additional laws when it comes to possession and breeding of harmful dogs.”

Community security minister Siobhian Brown stated her ideas had been with the victims of the “distressing” attack.

She stated: “Such incidents illustrate the significance of accountable canine possession and efficient enforcement by native authorities and Police Scotland of related legal guidelines.”

It had confronted rising calls to fall consistent with restrictions on the breed south of the border, which got here into pressure on 31 December.

New UK legal guidelines banned the breeding, promoting or abandonment of the dogs in England and Wales.

Dogs should even be stored muzzled and on a lead whereas in public.

XL bully dogs have been concerned in a number of high-profile assaults the place their homeowners or bystanders had been mauled and even killed.

The UK authorities stated the breed was “disproportionately concerned” in a recent enhance in deaths by canine assaults for the reason that begin of 2021.

However, there was some issue in figuring out the dogs and they don’t seem to be recognised as a particular breed by the UK Kennel Club.

Some XL Bully homeowners have additionally argued that the dogs are being unfairly singled out as different breeds which aren’t being banned have additionally been answerable for assaults on folks.

The Scottish SPCA beforehand stated Scotland had been used as a “dumping floor” for the breed after the UK legal guidelines had been launched.

First Minister Humza Yousaf stated the brand new guidelines had been introduced with out session with the Scottish authorities.

The Scottish laws will are available in to pressure at a later date.