American bulldog shot dead by police after it attacks owner

Armed police chased down and shot dead a pet dog after it attacked its owner.

Officers and a force helicopter were scrambled when the American bulldog bit another family pet before fleeing the garden in Exeter, Devon.

When Devon and Cornwall police attended at 3pm on Friday, the dog's owners - who suffered minor injuries - agreed it should be put down.

Inspector Greg Hine said: "The decision to authorise an armed response to this incident was not taken lightly, but we responded proportionately to the risk to public safety.

"Unfortunately, the dog could not be controlled and was humanely put down.

"The owners agreed with our course of action, which we appreciate was upsetting for them and for the community."

In another incident, a 40-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy were charged after a dog attack left two children injured.

The incident happened near Blackburnhall Gardens in Bathgate, West Lothian, on Wednesday evening.

Police Scotland said two children aged three and 10 sustained minor injuries and a mini Yorkshire terrier died.

In December, a man died after being attacked by a dog at a kennels in Kirkton of Auchterhouse in Angus, Scotland.

Police said the 55-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is understood the incident happened at Juniper Kennels and Cattery and involved a large bulldog type dog.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

The incidents came after 10-year-old Jack Lis was mauled to death by a dog at a friend's home in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, Swansea, in November.

The animal was later identified as an American bully or XL bully, which are not on the banned breed list.

A 28-year-old woman from the Caerphilly area was arrested following the attack on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, and was later released on conditional bail.

Two men – a 34-year-old from the Mountain Ash area and a 19-year-old from the Caerphilly area – were both released after voluntarily speaking to police over being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control.