Warning after puppy killed in park horror
Nightmare ordeal for couple and granddaughters
A Rutherglen couple have been left devastated after their 12-week-old puppy was killed by another dog.
Iain Gourlay, his wife Kathleen and his three young granddaughters watched on in horror as their beloved black Labrador pup Rosie was attacked by another, bigger dog in Kierkland Park, Strathaven earlier this month.
Vets were unable to save Rosie, who died later that day.
And now Burnside couple Iain and Kathleen want to warn other dog owners not to make the same mistake they did and to keep their dogs on a leash at all times.
Iain told the Reformer: “We went for a walk in the park with my grandkids and wee Rosie.
“It was a nice sunny day and the children, who are eight, six and four, were all running around with the little pup and playing with her. She was off the leash and they were having a great time.
“The kids were a wee bit in front of me when a guy appeared with a dog on a lead and was shouting ‘get your dog away, get your dog away.’
“At this point I could hear my wife screaming. She was in hysterics.
“I ran down and the dog had latched itself on to Rosie’s face and wouldn’t let her go.
“I had to prise its jaws open. It felt like this went on for hours but it was only a few minutes.
“Eventually I managed to open them and get Rosie out.
“The grandkids watched all of this and were understandably horrified.”
Iain took the seriously injured little dog to nearby Avondale Vets but wasn’t allowed into the surgery because of social distancing measures.
He said: “When I carried her in she started to vomit blood.
“The staff were absolutely brilliant. They took her in but about 10 minutes later the vet came out and said there was nothing they could do to save her.
“They told us that her internal injuries were so severe that she passed away. We were devastated.”
Following an investigation, police deemed there was no criminality as the other dog was on a leash and not therefore “dangerously out of control”.
A disappointed Iain said: “Because the other dog was on a leash nothing can be done.
“However, the dog warden has told me it is now subject to a control notice that means it’s got to wear a muzzle in public.
“That’s something at least but it doesn’t bring Rosie back or stop my granddaughters from seeing such a horrible thing.
“We were in the wrong place at the wrong time and I urge everyone to keep their dogs on a leash.”
Inspector Stephen McManus, Rutherglen police office confirmed police were made aware of the incident, he said: “Police attended a report of a dog having been attacked in Strathaven on June 17.
“Officers spoke to several witnesses and it was established that the dog involved had not been dangerously out of control as per Section 3 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
“Following the investigation, contact was made with the local authority dog warden requesting that they carry out an assessment with a view to issuing a dog control notice.
“Sadly in this instance the young dog died as a result of the bite from the other dog and unfortunately this was witnessed not only by the owners but also their three grandchildren which has undoubtedly left a lasting impact. I would ask that all dog owners act in a responsible manner when they are out in public and have their dogs on a leash if they are near other dogs and their owners.”