OUT OF CONTROL

A GENERATION OF LOCKDOWN PETS BECOME MENACE UNLEASHED Terrified victims of danger dog attacks demand urgent crackdown as incidents soar by 45 per cent

- MARK MCGIVERN & GEORGE WINTER 

VICTIMS of dangerous dogs have backed calls for a legal clampdown after new data showed a massive jump in reported attacks.

The Daily Record has uncovered a 45 per cent leap in Dog Control Notices issued during lockdown, sparked by attacks on humans and other dogs.

Staffies and German shepherds were the most complained about breeds in the data, revealed via Freedom of Information responses from 31 Scottish local authorities.

The shock figures have sparked calls for urgent legal controls to be introduced to put more responsibility on dog owners in Scotland.

Sylvia Baillie, 66, who was savagely bitten in the face by a Japanese Akita, said she was not surprised to hear of the rise in cases.

She said: "I notice there are more dogs and I notice how many are not on leads or muzzled and that causes me a lot of stress.

"I believe there should be legislation to force those conditions on all owners who walk dogs in public."

Sylvia still takes Valium for her nerves and is on sleeping pills after being set upon by a neighbour's dog in 2016.

She said: "There are too many dangerous breeds and too many dogs owned by people who should not have pets.

Susan Jack, 55, told how she was forced to prise apart the jaws of two bull terriers as they savaged her cockapoo, Flora.