A Fife family has been traumatised by a dog attack in which their beloved pet lost an eye.
Derek Baxter’s wife and teenage daughter were walking Lhasa Apso Millie when she was mauled by a Staffordshire bull terrier.
Fiona and Katie, 15, were just yards from their Halbeath home when the unmuzzled dog escaped from a garden and set upon 11-year-old Millie.
They repeatedly hit the dog but were unable to get it off until a neighbour leapt over a fence and came to Millie’s rescue.
Derek said: “If it wasn’t for our neighbour Millie would be dead. He ran out of his house, jumped over a fence and grabbed the dog’s head. It still had Millie’s head in its mouth. It was a horrendous attack.
“Millie is now very timid. It will take a while for her to get back to how she was before, if she ever does.”
Both Fiona and Katie were distraught at witnessing the attack, which also left Millie with puncture wounds to her head and bruised gums.
Transport clerk Derek, 48, said the young male owner appeared afterwards and apologised but he wants action taken against him, the dog destroyed and the cost of vet bills, so far over £400, recovered.
He said: “It’s the effect it’s had on my family.
“My daughter was supposed to sit her first exam the day after but she wasn’t able to go to school, she had a panic attack.
“Every time my wife looks at Millie she has a tear in her eye. She is having flashbacks and nightmares.”
Both police and Fife Council dog warden team are investigating the incident, which could result in a dog control notice being issued.
Such notices can require dogs are kept muzzled or on a lead in places the public can access or kept away from certain areas.
A spokesperson for Fife Council said: “Fife Council is investigating this matter under the Control of Dogs Scotland Act 2010.
“An officer authorised under the act will carry out an investigation and if they identify that the dog is out of control the owner will be either offered advice, issued a warning letter or have a dog control notice served on them.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police in Fife are investigating following a dog attack in Fod Street, Dunfermline.
“The incident happened around 6.30pm on Thursday, April 20, when a dog was attacked by a Staffordshire pitbull terrier type dog.
“The attacked dog was seriously injured and has subsequently received treatment.
“Enquiries are currently ongoing and there is liaison between Police Scotland staff and Fife Council’s dog warden.”
