Dangerous dogs attack youngsters

SEVERAL PEOPLE, including two children and a police officer, have been attacked by vicious dogs at a Travellers’site in Dundee, The Courier can reveal.

In the worst cases the aggressive animals punctured skin, ripped clothes and left painful scratches.

The frightening incidents were first reported at the same time as a group of Travellers moved on to public parkland off South Road two weeks ago.

However, none of the illegal campers have accepted ownership of the animals following police questioning.

One officer was left with minor injuries after being the victim of a dog attack at the site last Wednesday.

And earlier this week your reporter suffered a similar scare when two mongrels repeatedly bit both legs, but luckily failed to pierce the skin.

One of the dangerous dogs has now been apprehended by a city council dog warden and will remain in Brown Street Kennels until its owner steps forward.

A spokesman for the local authority added: “If this does not happen within seven days the dog becomes council property and we will assess it for suitability for rehoming.

“Council dog wardens will continue to monitor the situation at South Road.”

If the owner is found then he/she may be eligible for prosecution under the control of dogs act, due to the circumstances surrounding the animal’s forcible removal.

With such a high number of attacks in recent weeks there is growing concern for the welfare of people who use the park, which is popular with young children and the elderly from the neighbouring areas of Menzieshill and Charleston.

It is understood about 10 dog attacks have been reported at the site in the last 13 days, including against a 15 and 16-year-old.

Although one dog has been removed, many more have been spotted roaming close to caravans untethered and without collars.

A spokesperson for Tayside Police said: “We can confrim officers are investigating several complaints regarding dogs in the area of South Road.

“Inquiries are continuing into these incidents and officers are also working closely with the local authority and dog wardens to resolve the matter.”

Meanwhile, Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick echoed views voiced by Ken Guild, leader of the city’s SNP administration, who described a recent dog attack as “quite disgraceful”.

“As councillor Ken Guild says, this group is giving the traveller community a bad name in the city,” added Mr FitzPatrick.

“It is entirely unacceptable that this group continues to flout the law, preventing the citizens of Dundee from gaining access to this public space.

“I am keen to meet with council leaders and others to see if there is a long-term solution to prevent these illegal encampments within the city.

“The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 was introduced in May last year and dog control orders are becoming an effective tool in the armoury against irresponsible people failing to control aggressive dogs and this must apply to everyone.”

The Scottish SPCA said dog banning orders were a good way of stopping unfit dog owners.

Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn added: “Although there is currently no law which prevents a person obtaining a dog, we believe bans are a successful way of preventing irresponsible or unfit own- ers from ever having control of a dog again. Ban breaches are considered very serious offences by the courts and if someone has not got a dog, they cannot use it as a weapon.”

The group of Travellers set up camp on the council-owned land behind the Lynch Centre on July 27 and were issued with a 24-hour notice to quit the site shortly after their arrival.

The order was ignored and the matter is due to be heard by a sheriff on August 20.