Two XL bully dogs are facing potential destruction after breaking out of their garden and savagely mauling a family and their cockapoo.
The incident occurred on April 9 near Raeburn Crescent, Hamilton, Scotland, where the dogs' owner, Richard Hannah, 38, resides.
Hannah appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week, admitting his dogs were dangerously out of control during the attack.
The prosecution is seeking to have the dogs destroyed and the 38-year-old disqualified from keeping animals.
The XL bullies, which were neither muzzled nor on leads at the time, attacked a two-year-old cockapoo being walked by a neighbour.
The family intervened to save their pet, resulting in injuries to three people and their pooch.
Prosecutor Daisy Bentley detailed the attack in court: “The XL bullies caught up with them and began to attack the cockapoo, biting its torso, neck and ears.”
The family and a bystander rushed to assist, striking the attacking dogs with whatever they could find.
Hannah claimed he had secured the dogs in his garden with locked gates, suggesting someone must have opened them.
He told police: “The dogs wouldn't have got out by themselves.”
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The XL bullies, which were neither muzzled nor on leads at the time, attacked a two-year-old cockapoo being walked by a neighbour (stock pic)
PA
A man suffered cuts to his fingers, while his wife and son sustained scratches.
The cockapoo required veterinary treatment but has since recovered well.
The XL bullies were taken from Hannah after the incident and are being held in kennels pending the legal process.
Defence lawyer Gregor Jarrott stated: “He has no intention of keeping dogs again. This has been a very anxious period for him.”
Sheriff John Speir has deferred sentencing until December to allow for background reports and to consider the dogs' fate.
Hannah's defence maintains he was unaware the dogs had escaped, but acknowledges his responsibility as the owner.
Jarrott said: “It's his position that he was unaware they had escaped from the garden, but as the owner responsibility falls on him.”
The cockapoo's owners revealed they had spent hundreds of pounds on veterinary fees following the attack.
One family member expressed their fear, stating: “We thought our dog was going to die.”
Another added: “Even before the attack people were terrified of those XL bullies.”
They described intimidating behaviour from one of the dogs, saying: “One would snarl and stick its face through the fence as you walked past.”
