Dad of boy mauled by Akita dog calls for animal to be killed after attack

Daily Record

a day ago

Zander Coyle was playing at a pal's home in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, when the powerfully built animal suddenly turned on him.
A dad whose nine-year-old son was mauled by a large Akita dog has called for the animal to be put down.
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Zander Coyle was playing at a pal's home in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, when the powerfully built animal suddenly turned on him.
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During the terrifying attack, Zander suffered a gash to his head and puncture wounds to the back and side of his neck as well as bite marks.
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His dad Alex told the Daily Record that the dog's owner – the pal's dad – had to pull the pet off Zander after it had him pinned to the ground.
Zander was rushed to Monklands Hospital in Airdrie where doctors cleaned up the wounds and gave him antibiotics to prevent them becoming infected. Alex, 48, a machine operator, said: 'I think the dog should be put down. Anyone looking at the photographs of my sons' injuries would surely agree.
'The dog nearly killed Zander when he mauled him.'
The case is being investigated by North Lanarkshire Council, which has the power to seek a court order to have the dog put down.
A dog warden official met Alex earlier this week and is also due to meet the dog's owners.
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The Control of Dogs Act gives councils the powers to impose conditions on the owner of an out-of-control dog which, if breached, can result in a fine.
A council can also apply to the court to have an owner banned from keeping a dog.
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Alex does not attach any blame to the owners but worries that another child could be attacked while a decision is being made over the dog's future.
He added: 'When I went to the house where the attack took place, my son was in shock and shaking. The attack has left him deeply traumatised and he cannot go near dogs. If he sees a dog now, he gives them a wide berth.'
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A North Lanarkshire council spokesperson said: 'Police Scotland referred this incident to us to investigate, and our Dog Warden took a statement from Mr Coyle on 11 August.
"To date, we have been unable to speak to the dog owner so a letter has been sent asking the owner to contact us to arrange for a statement to be taken and an assessment of the dog to be carried out.
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"This will determine what action, if any, we take in terms of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.'
A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'We received a report of a dog attacking a child within a property in the Bellshill area.
'A nine-year-old boy attended hospital for treatment. The matter was referred to the local dog warden.'