An Angus man has spoken of the “nightmares” he has suffered since his dog was attacked by four bull terrier-type dogs.
Jim Davidson from Montrose was walking his springer spaniel Reuben on the town’s Links when he was approached by a woman with four cross-breed dogs.
As the 71-year-old brought his dog to heel between his legs, one of the animals lunged for Reuben and the others joined in.
“I can still hear Reuben screaming,” said Mr Davidson. “I have been having an awful time sleeping and have been to the doctor’s because I’ve been having nightmares.
“He gave me a mild sedative and it has been helping a little.”
The incident happened prior to a similar one in Brechin last week, in which four animals attacked a local pensioner.
On Saturday we revealed how police visited Brechin woman Fiona Borders to impound four dogs the night before.
A link was initially drawn by police after having heard accounts from Mr Davidson and the later, unnamed, victim. Mr Davidson believes the same dogs were involved.
“We phoned the police to tell them about Jim’s experience,” said Mr Davidson’s wife, Elizabeth. “They advised us to get in touch with the vet to check Reuben out before we got back to them.”
Reuben sustained a bite on his paw and scratches during the incident, which saw the woman call to a younger man.
Mr Davidson said the man was openly hostile to him, and it was only by “running away” that he got his dog out alive.
“I actually had him on a training halter and there was so much movement and shaking it broke.
“So I was holding on to his collar to keep him from running. I know that if I wasn’t there, he’d be away (dead).”
Mr Davidson saw a picture of Ms Borders in Saturday’s Courier and believes her to be the woman he encountered on February 3.
He sympathised with dog owners who have taken on too much responsibility with animals which can be hard to handle.
However Mrs Davidson said: “I’ve nothing against staffies I love dogs and always have. If you cannot control your dog, you shouldn’t have one.”
The OAP owner of the crossbreeds admitted it was her dogs that had gone for the 78-year-old in Wednesday’s Brechin incident, but said it was “his own fault” after claiming he kicked out at the over-excited pups.
Ms Borders, who is 76, made the claim at the door of her boarded-up home in the town’s Montrose Street just seconds after police had seized her pets in the wake of the incident behind garages at Viewbank Place, next to Wards Park, around 2pm on Wednesday.
The victim, who asked to remain anonymous, had described the dogs as “completely out of control”.
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Tayside Division can confirm that the dogs have been seized and enquiries are continuing.”
The Courier visited Ms Borders on Monday but she was unavailable for comment.