Pet owner feared his beagle would be killed in ‘whirlwind’ dog attack at Dundee park

A pet owner feared his beloved beagle would be killed after a “whirlwind” dog attack at a Dundee park.

Paul Wanless’s dog was rushed in for emergency surgery after the incident with a bulldog at Magdalen Green.

Seven-year-old beagle Forrest was on a lead before suffering injuries to his front when he was attacked by a alapaha blue blood bulldog last month.

He is now recovering well but owner Paul was terrified he was going to lose his pet as he was prepared for surgery.

Warning to Magdalen Green dog walkers after attack

Paul, 39, said: “I’ve been walking dogs down on the green all my life, we’ve never had anything like this before.

“It was the last thing I expected to happen, it was a total whirlwind.

“The other dog came thundering down at about 8pm, near the band stand and Forrest was on a lead.”

He added: “I didn’t think anything of it at first and thought the dog was wanting to play.

“As it got closer I heard the owner trying to call it back.

“After that it was like a whirlwind, I was trying to pull the other dog off of Forrest.

“I was screaming at the other guy to get his dog as I tried to grab its collar.”

Paul says as the bulldog continued to grip Forrest he thought his beagle was going to die.

‘I’m going to lose my dog here’

He added: “The dog was tough and wasn’t letting go.

“It was dark, I couldn’t see exactly what the dog had a hold of – he could have had Forrest by the throat.

“I thought ‘I’m going to lose my dog here’.”

Paul rushed his dog to Parkside Vets that evening for surgery.

Vets cleaned the wound to stave off any risk of infection and checked if there was any ruptures to his internal organs.

Folk haven’t been letting their kids out with their dogs given what’s happened.”

Paul added: “I called the out of hours vets, I couldn’t leave it overnight.

“He had to go in for a second surgery at his usual vets to get the wound stitched up.

“It cost around £2,000 for the surgeries.”

After the ordeal at the green Paul said he wanted to raise awareness of the attack with other dog owners.

He said: “All dog walkers down here know one another, everyone was shocked by the extent of Forrest’s injuries.

“I contacted the police originally but the matter is now with the dog warden.

“I’d placed signs at the green appealing for witnesses to the attack.

“Folk haven’t been letting their kids out alone with their dogs given what happened.

“Forrest is recovering but hasn’t been back to the green since, we won’t be put off coming back once he recovers.”

A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “We are aware of this complaint and are currently investigating the matter.”