A dog which helped its owners to escape a fire in their home could be destroyed after biting a man.
In September 2011, German shepherd dog Dylan raised the alarm and alerted the Philbin family to the danger, allowing them to flee to safety through a back window.
Dylan had barked when he smelled fire in a storage area at the close in Strathtay Road, Perth, much to the relief of Barbara Philbin, her husband Michael, who owns the dog, and her granddaughter.
Police and firefighters launched a joint investigation into the cause of the early morning blaze, which saw four adults and two children plucked to safety from a balcony.
Dylan now faces an uncertain future, however, after biting a man who then required treatment at Perth Royal Infirmary for an arm injury.
As a result of the bite, Michael Philbin, 49, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Tuesday and admitted being in charge of the dog during the incident on a path between Strathtay Road and Crieff Road on August 28.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told the court that a 44-year-old man suffered a bite to his arm.
The wound was treated by staff at the hospital, who also gave him antibiotics.
Solicitor Cliff Culley, defending, highlighted the fire rescue, in which he claimed Dylan had “saved a lot of people”.
He told Sheriff Lindsay Foulis: “Your Lordship may be considering the destruction of the dog, or other measures, such as muzzling.
“However, I have letters from neighbours of my client praising Dylan for his part in the fire incident.”
Sheriff Foulis replied: “I will decide later what to do with Dylan.”
He deferred sentence on Philbin until February 4 for the preparation of background reports.
Mrs Philbin’s not guilty plea to the charge was accepted by the Crown.