BEAST UNLEASHED
XL Bully that mauled 3 men ‘arrived from England a week ago’ – as cops forced to shoot beast when TASER had no effect
Locals have told how the massive animal's horrifying rampage unfolded
AN XL Bully that was shot dead by police after it savagely mauled two men and a cop only arrived in Scotland from England a week ago, it's claimed.
Armed officers shot and killed nine-stone beast Zeus after it lunged at two men and an officer in terrifying scenes yesterday.
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The first attack unfolded on Loudonhill Avenue in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire - with a man taken to Hairmyres Hospital for treatment for minor injuries.
Police were then called to the Tinto View - just around the corner - at around 5pm.
The man was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow.
The dog attempted to attack an officer - with cops trying in vain to use a Taser to stop the beast in its tracks.
But the weapon didn't work, with armed officers then forced to fire at the pooch - killing it.
Neighbours today claimed that the owner - named locally as William Hunter - had told them he had only just ‘rescued’ the dog a week ago from England.
The animals have been banned in England and Wales, with it now illegal for the animals to be bred, sold or abandoned.
The requirements also mean the animals - who have to be registered with the UK government - must be kept on a lead and muzzled when in public.
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And Scotland saw a "flow" of XL Bully dogs arrive in the country after the ban in England and Wales at the end of last year.
Humza Yousaf had previously refused to follow the crackdown - but was forced into a U-turn when there was an influx of the breed into Scotland.
The Scottish legislation will come into force at a later date.
The dog involved in yesterday's attack was one such animal that arrived in Scotland to avoid the ban.
A local said: “The only reason that dog was here was because of the differences in the law.
"Zeus could have easily attacked a child or another smaller dog.
"If the Scottish Government had followed suit with England, this wouldn’t have happened."
It's believed the owner Mr Hunter was left with wounds to his hip, hands, wrists and leg.
The victim involved in the attack was bitten on the leg but luckily was left with only a limp.
Kevin Pace, 52, who lives in the same block of flats as the victims, said it took four bullets to end the bloodbath attack.
He said: “I heard the victim tell officers he’d only had the dog for a week.
“The owner wasn’t upset that the dog was shot, he looked relieved.
“It was going to kill someone if it wasn’t stopped.”
How will the XL Bully Ban work?
It will be a criminal offence to have an XL bully dog in Scotland unless it is on the exemption register.
Any XL bully dog must also be on a lead and muzzled at all times in a public place, including in a private car.
It will also be illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL bully dogs stray in Scotland.
The requirement to record dogs on the exemption register will follow.
Recalling the horror, Kevin said: “I heard a lot of barking and then saw two guys basically fighting with the dog, it wouldn’t let go of one of them.
“One guy managed to free himself but the dog stayed clamped on the owner.
“The dog looked angry and scared.
“The cops turned up with riot shields and approached the dog. They tried tasering it but that had no effect.
“Eventually the armed cop shot it but it took three or four shots to put it down, it wasn’t for dying.
“The owner had been savaged across his wrists, legs and hips - there was blood everywhere.”
Superintendent Steven Espie said: “This was a distressing incident for those involved. I would like to reassure the local community that this was a contained incident and there is no further risk to the public.
“There will be a continued police presence in the area while our enquiries continue.
“Enquiries are also ongoing to establish the breed of the dog.”
The circumstances of the incident will be referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).
There have also been a number of horror attacks in Scotland involving XL Bullies.
We told last October how eyewitnesses spoke of their horror at seeing an XL Bully savage its teenage owner in a terrifying attack in Motherwell that left him needing surgery.
The same month, a court heard how an out-of-control XL Bully mauled three kids in terrifying attacks in Forfar just weeks apart.
And in September, we told how XL Bully owner Gaynor Kerr, 47, from Dundee, had her thumb bitten off in a horrific attack where her husband George, 63, was also badly mauled.
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The Scottish Government previously confirmed a crackdown on the dogs would be extended to Scotland.
First Minister Humza Yousaf had come under fire for not replicating a similar ban in Scotland, with fears the breed was flooding up north when they were banned in England and Scotland.
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