Dog owner’s fears for children after savage attack

Terrier’s neck ripped open by dangerous hound

An Angus man said he fears what could happen if a toddler comes into contact with a dangerous dog which savaged his terrier in an Arbroath street.

Daniel Billinghurst’s eight-year-old pet, Dougal, required stitches in a horrific neck wound after being grabbed in the jaws of a large animal near flats on Dishlandtown Street in Arbroath.

The tiny terrier was dropped after a nearby resident threw water on the larger dog.

The rottweiler/staffie-type attacker was seized by police but is thought to have now been returned to its owner.

Mr Billinghurst said the frightening 9pm attack happened “out of the blue”.

He said: “It doesn’t bear thinking about if it had been a toddler on reins learning to walk down the street and the same thing had happened.

“There’s a dangerous dog in that street and the owner seems to have no control over it,” continued Mr Billinghurst.

Police said inquiries are continuing.

An Angus dog owner has relived the horror of his tiny pet being savaged in a ferocious attack on a local street.

Daniel Billinghurst was walking Yorkshire/border terrier Dougal past flats on Dishlandtown Street in Arbroath when the dog was savaged by a large out of control animal which he said appeared from “out of the blue”.

A nearby resident helped to break up the horrifying attack, but not before Daniel’s pet was grabbed by the neck and he suffered a hand injury in an attempt to rescue him.

The terrier was left with a wound which required stitches and Daniel had to pay a £450 vet bill.

“It happened out of the blue,” said the 29-year-old from Arbroath.

“As I walked down by the block of flats I saw a woman lying there and just a couple of seconds later a big dog came running out and grabbed Dougal by the neck.

“When I saw what was happening I pulled him in on the lead but the attacking dog got him.

“There was then a bit of a stalemate as the owner jumped on to her dog but it wouldn’t let go.

“Luckily another girl came out and threw water over the other dog and it let Dougal go – I was so grateful to her,” added Daniel.

“Dougal’s quite a placid little dog and basically half his neck was skinned by the other dog, but thankfully it didn’t puncture right through the tissue. “The staff at Abbey Vets have been great and I would like to thank them.

“It doesn’t bear thinking about if it had been a toddler on reins learning to walk down the street and the same thing had happened,” he added.

“There’s a dangerous dog in that street and the owner seems to have no control over it,” added Daniel, who described the attack dog as a large rottweiler/staffie type animal.

Although the dog was initially seized, Daniel believes it is now back with its owner.

“I’m appalled that there might be no action taken over this,” he said.

A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that it received a report regarding an incident involving a dog in Dishlandtown Street, Arbroath, on the evening of May 3.

“A dog was seized and inquiries into the incident are continuing.”

Picture: Paul Reid. Owner Daniel with pet Dougal, who is expected to make a full recovery.