A Perth mother has called for the destruction of a bull mastiff after it attacked her daughter a year after her own pet was ordered to be put down.
Nine-year-old Jessica Tait was bitten on the face by the animal outside the Co-op in Perth’s Rannoch Road. Tayside Police have confirmed they will investigate the incident, which took place earlier this month.
The youngster was out with her grandmother at the time and was rushed to Perth Royal Infirmary with two puncture wounds on her face, with significant bruising and swelling.
Mother Connie Furlong was once the owner of a dog deemed dangerous by the courts and fought long and hard against the decision.
Her rottweiler, Woody, was ordered to be destroyed after the dog was found to be responsible for two attacks on police officers. Ms Furlong worked hard to give the animal a stay of execution and even took her case to the appeal court in Edinburgh.
However, she was forced to admit that her dog was uncontrollable after it attacked a second police officer in October of that year and the dog was eventually destroyed on Christmas Eve.
Speaking to The Courier, Ms Furlong called for the dog that attacked her daughter to be destroyed, saying it had scarred Jessica for life. She denied hypocrisy, claiming the dogs were in different situations.
”Woody had been a much-loved family pet for 10 years, during which there had been no incidents,” she said. ”When he did bite those police officers I had no option but to accept he’d done it, but I believed he did not have to be put down. This dog is different.”
She added: ”I’m not looking to attack the owner or the breed, and I love dogs. This was a very young dog. However, it is a big dog and it has already proven itself to be dangerous.
”Tayside Police definitely need to take some action because I believe it is a danger to children.”
Ms Furlong said she was horrified when she received the call saying Jessica had been taken into hospital.
”Some people look at her now and it might not look like a major injury but she will be left with permanent scars from that dog’s teeth.
”When I saw her at the hospital however her face was swollen and bruised as if she had been punched in the face and her lips had gone blue.
”It was traumatic for me and mentally Jessica has gone through a lot.”
Ms Furlong added: ”What happened really upset her and she’s now more than a little frightened of dogs, when before she just loved them. It’s very sad.”
A police spokesman said: ”We can confirm that we have received a complaint in relation to a nine-year-old girl being bitten by a dog in Rannoch Road. The girl subsequently attended at hospital for treatment to a facial injury.”
Anyone who was in the area of the Co-op at the time is asked to call the police on 0300 1112222.