Girl attacked by two bulldogs in Glasgow

The girl is being treated at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow. Picture: Jane Barlow

Broagan McCuaig is reported to have undergone a series of operations on her face after being mauled by the two animals on Friday.

The child was also left with injuries to her arms and legs after the incident, which is said to have lasted up to six minutes.

Police seized the animals after the attack in Garthamlock, Glasgow and two people have been charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The girl was playing with friends when she was attacked. Her condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

Neighbour Linda Moffat, 45, said: “I haven’t been able to sleep or get what I saw out of my mind. I do not know if I ever will. I was in my flat when I heard a scream and saw her being attacked by the two dogs.

“I ran down into the back court with Broagan’s mother, Tracy, but there was nothing we could do.”

The mother of two said the dogs were shaking the girl as if she was a “rag doll” before she could be rescued. Witnesses reported seeing the dog attack after Broagan made a sudden movement during a game of tig.

Broagan’s sister Caitlin spoke of the family’s shock on Twitter.

She tweeted: “Just been told my sister has been attacked by 2 American bulldogs, praying for you Broagan. So wish there was more I could do, hate feeling useless love you sis x.”

The Dangerous Dogs Act bans specific breeds, but the American bulldog is not one of those outlawed.

Tighter controls on dogs came into force in 2011. Before then, the only sanction was the destruction of specific dangerous breeds. The new legislation allowed for control orders to be applied to any dog.

Local MSP Paul Martin said: “My thoughts are with the family. We have to take robust action to deal with this, and we have to give the victim all the support we can.

“It always seems to be children who find themselves in this position.”

Mr Martin added: “We have introduced legislation to deal with the owners, but there are issues registering dogs. First we have to decide if these types of dogs should exist. There are questions that must be asked about their nature and their tendency to attack.

“I can’t speculate on this situation, but there has to be a more robust regime in place to deal with owners.”

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “An eight-year-old girl has suffered serious facial injuries after being bitten by two dogs, believed to be American bulldogs, following an incident in Gartloch Road, Garthamlock, at about 5:10pm on Friday, 18

October.

“The girl was taken to the Yorkhill Sick Children’s Hospital where she is being treated for her injuries.

“The dogs have been seized. A man aged 34 and a 33-year-old woman are the subject of a report to the procurator-fiscal in connection with the incident.”