Third Rottweiler found in home where child was mauled

STV

A third Rottweiler has been taken from the house where two of the breed escaped and mauled a ten-year-old girl.

The family of the child, now 11, contacted local politicians after they discovered the dog was living in the house in the Dryburgh area of Dundee.

Derek Adam was jailed for a year after he was convicted of being the owner of Fat Boy and Pretty Girl, the dogs responsible for the attack which left the girl with multiple injuries including a broken jaw.

The 39-year-old, who was also banned from keeping dogs for life, is set to appeal his conviction.

It is understood that a third dog was being kept in the house Adam once shared with his former partner, Sarah Kerr.

Miss Kerr was charged with being in charge of the dogs when they mauled the girl on August 29, 2010, but was acquitted by a jury, who delivered a not proven verdict.

She claimed on the witness stand that her "controlling" former partner had expected her to "take the blame" for the incident.

Local MSP Joe FitzPatrick contacted Dundee City Council who removed the dog and will now assess it to see if it can be safely rehomed.

Mr FitzPatrick said: "I met the mother and the grandfather of the child who was savagely mauled and was horrified to learn that there was another Rottweiler at the address on the route the child passes on the way to school.

"Not surprisingly, the family and local residents were concerned given that less than two months have passed since the trial in December.

"I took this allegation up urgently and have been impressed by the council's prompt action in removing the dog from the location."

A Dundee City Council spokesman added: "We spoke to the owner about the dog and agreed that Dundee City Council would take the dog away and assess it for rehoming."

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was pulled from her bike by the dogs and repeatedly bitten.

She was saved from the animals by quick-thinking Irene Grady, 57, who witnessed the attack from her living room window.

Mrs Grady, who was recovering from a broken ankle and three broken ribs at the time, rushed to the child's aid and concealed her in her dressing gown before taking the youngster into her home to wait for paramedics.

The girl spent a month recovering in hospital following her ordeal and still requires medical treatment.

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