Lead the Way: Victims call on MSPs to change the law

MSPs have met with Clyde News and the parents of children who have been left permanently scarred following dog attacks at Holyrood this week ahead of a debate of the issue next month.

We are urging the Scottish Government to review the Control of Dogs Act (2011) and look at measures like introducing a license fee to help local authorities pay for additional animal control wardens.

Our campaign has received support from politicians from four of the five major political parties, the Scottish SPCA, the Royal Mail and the Communications Workers Union

A debate on our campaign findings takes place on May 8th.

We launched 'Lead the Way' in September 2017 after discovering the number of people being hospitalised because of dog attacks and injuries has been steadily rising over the last three years.

Between January and June, this year 205 children have been to A&E because of dog bites and in 2015, 1,939 people received treatment.

In 2016, the figure rose to 2,027 people.

1,057 children and adults went to hospital after being bitten in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area in the first 6 months of 2017.

As well as the families we took to Holyrood, others have come forward to share their stories with us.

Debbie’s* 5 year-old daughter was bitten on the face by a terrier type dog in June 2016; she had to get a tetanus vaccination and has been left with a scar.

It was reported to Police Scotland who were unable to do anything because the animal is not considered a dangerous breed.

Debbie said: “We are at a friend’s house and she was in another room and all of a sudden she came in and told us the dog had bitten her face. She was very calm. She was in shock.

“My first reaction was to get her to the hospital because her face was bleeding quite badly. It’s all a bit of a blur.

“She has a scar on her face. When you look closely you can see teeth marks and she was terrified of dogs afterwards.”

Joyce Botts husband Stevie was bitten on the face by an Alsatian-type dog in March last year.

He has been left with long-term damage, including no feeling in his bottom lip.

Joyce is a dog groomer who works with problem dogs and said: “I was at work when Stevie called me to say he’d be bitten. I didn’t really take it seriously, I just thought he’d have been nipped. But, I said I’d take him to the hospital and I was really quite shocked when I saw the mess he was in.

“Animals don’t have the same instincts as humans do but I also think it’s down to owners to make sure their animals are as well trained as possible, but also I don’t think any dog could be 100% trust worthy.

“We’ve got animals of our own, we’ve got dogs and horses. We’ve also got a grandson and we would never consider leaving him alone with any of the animals.

“You don’t know what is going through their heads. We’ve often wondered if the dog that bite Stevie saw his beard and thought it’d seen something it hadn’t. You just don’t know."

Have you been affected by an dog bite? Are you one of the hundreds of parents who have rushed their kids to hospital with bite injuries in Glasgow this year? Email the news team at clydenews@radioclyde.com

*name has been changed.

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