‘Dangerous’ XL bully killed by police after violent attack
Luckily, the Collie survived the attack and is now at home after being taken to the vet for precautionary measures.
An XL bully dog was shot dead by armed police on Sunday morning in East Kilbride after attacking another dog and three people.
The bully was shot eight times in Mannering, Calderwood after mauling a small dog and biting three others who sustained minor injuries as it was deemed to be “dangerously out of control”.
Locals heard gunshots ring out after officers were unable to get the dog under control and had to call for backup.
Distressing footage which captured the sound of the shots and police at the property has since been shared on social media.
A teenage girl has been reported to the procurator fiscal.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Local officers attended and attempted to restrain the dog which was dangerously out of control. Armed officers subsequently attended and the dog was shot dead by police.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the breed of dog and there will be a continued police presence in the area while enquiries continue.”
Kian Daniels, a dog owner who lives in the area, said: “It was a vicious attack on a local dog that everyone knows and loves.
“It has never caused anyone any harm and has always been friendly to every dog and owner- we have never even heard it bark.
“It took four grown men and eight shots from the police and although this is tragic, it is the only thing that could be done to contain the harm that the dog was causing.
“The fact that the owner clearly couldn’t control the dog shows that this situation should never have happened in the first place.”
This is the second major incident involving an XL bully dog in South Lanarkshire in the last month after police gunned down one in Hamilton back in January after it had attacked its owner and another man causing serious injuries.
The Scottish Government has recently followed protocol from England and Wales to ban the breed which will come into force in August whilst also making it illegal to breed, sell or abandon the dangerous dogs.
From this Friday, all XL bullies must be kept on a lead at all times in public whilst also wearing a muzzle.
Humza Yousaf, First Minister, said: “Recent reports of XL Bully dogs being moved to Scotland from south of the border are concerning and it’s important we do not become a dumping ground for the breed, leading to unacceptable risks to public safety and animal welfare.
Lee Bullz, who runs a Facebook account to support XL Bullies, believes the new laws are “not fair at all”.
He said: “Dogs are being dumped, starved, abused and even killed just because of the people who own them for the wrong reasons.
“No dog is born to be aggressive, it’s people not training them right or people selling them to the wrong people.
“The owners need to be punished, not the dogs.”
