Man banned from owning dogs for ten years after pet mauled to death.

A man whose XL Bully mauled a pet to death was today disqualified from owning dogs for 10 years.

Gary Mulligan's pet Zuko attacked Agnes Donaldson and killed her Yorkshire Terrier in Glasgow's Castlemilk on May 1 2023.

Zuko leapt on 63-year-old Agnes who fell to the ground and landed on her wrist.

The dog then latched onto Agnes' pet who grasped it in his jaw and shook it violently.

The Yorkshire terrier suffered puncture wounds to the kidney and later died.

Agnes' wrist was broken in two places which required to have a metal plate inserted.

Mulligan, 28, of Castlemilk, arrived at the scene at speed in a car and claimed someone left the door open and Zuko got out.

He pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to being the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control.

Sheriff John McCormick ordered the self-employed joiner to do 300 hours of unpaid work as well as imposing the dog ban.

He said: "Those who choose to have such animals as pets must accept responsibilities and consequences that flow from that.

"You say you recognise the consequences of the offences but your attitude to the sentencing process leaves me with doubt about that.

"This is a direct alternative to custody following the gravity of the offence which is to severe injury.

"This is due to your lack of record which contains no analogous previous convictions and you pled guilty at an early stage."

The court heard Agnes was walking in the area with her two-year-old great niece and her four-year old dog.

Zuko - described as large with a heavy muscular build - was spotted unsupervised in the distance.

Agnes decided to walk away.

Prosecutor Katie Bell said: "The large dog started running towards the witness Donaldsons dog.

"Agnes attempted to pick her dog up to protect it but the large dog jumped up her causing her to fall and she landed on her wrist.

"When she fell, Donaldson dropped her dog and the large dog was able to get to it and immediately started biting at it, grasping it in its jaw and shaking it violently."

Attempts were made to get Zuko to lose its grip but it was to no avail.

The attack only stopped after Zuko spotted another smaller dog and went after it.

Agnes' dog was taken to the vets while a witness who stayed behind noticed Mulligan arrive in a car who was identified as the Zuko's owner.

Agnes was later told by the vet that her dog had succumbed to its injuries and died.

Mulligan was traced meantime and told officers: "My dog got out today, someone left the close door open."

Zuko was later put down on medical grounds as he suffered from a breathing condition.

It was reported that Agnes had suffered a broken wrist in two places which required metal plate surgery and required her to wear a medical brace.

Marisa Borland, defending, told the sentencing that her client accepts that he left his door open and did not put proper measures in place.

She said: "He accepts full responsibility for the dog being out with his control and has appropriate contrition and empathy about what took place and that it took place in front of a small child.

"He accepts that it is a serious offence."

Sheriff McCormick replied: "The public are very alive to people who choose to have a pet of this nature and those who do must accept the consequences of falling to look after them properly."

Mulligan's previous convictions include assaulting a man after an Old Firm Game at the Glencairn Social Club in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, in 2018.

The dad-of-two got into an argument and a scuffle with Jack McIntyre which escalated outside the bar.

Mulligan's friend Josh Jaconelli then kicked Mr McIntyre to the ground then struck him to the chest which left him unconscious for 10 minutes.

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