'He was ragdolled by two out-of-control dogs' - Edinburgh pet owner talks of horror after puppy was mauled in 'unprovoked attack'

Bruno is still at the vets fighting for his life.

A family have been left distraught after their 18-week-old a schnauzer-poodle cross called Bruno was savagely pulled out of his owners arms and mauled by two “out-of-control” dogs.

Julie Wilson, from Edinburgh, said the pup, who was in the arms of his owner at the time, was launched at in an “unprovoked attack” while out for a walk in the Corstophine Hill yesterday (May 22) at about 10am.

She said it remains uncertain whether or not he is going to survive after suffering extensive wounds to his abdomen.

Bruno, before he was attacked.

“My partner was out walking him at the time along a footpath and Bruno was ragdolled by these two out-of-control dogs,” the mum-of-one said.

“It was a completely unprovoked attack, neither my partner nor Bruno did anything to encourage this to happen.

“What makes it more shocking is Bruno was in my partner’s arms when this happened.

“The dogs actually jumped up and dragged our puppy out of my partner’s arms by his back leg onto the floor where they continued to attack him.”

Julie’s partner, John Gannon, struggled to push the aggressive animals off Bruno in the attack and ended up being pushed down a hill to the side of the path along with the owner who was trying to restrain one of the dogs on a lead.

“The owner and John, both full grown, tall men were pulled down by these dogs as they tried to stop them biting our poor puppy.

“These animals were so strong and while they didn’t bite John, he still managed to get injured after being pushed down the hill.

“Bruno wasn’t even on the ground at the time of the attack which makes it more worrying. He was in John’s arms and these dogs jumped up and went for him to kill him, it could be a child in someone’s arms next time?

“Something needs to be done before they go and attack another animal, or even a person. It’s not right and I wouldn’t forgive myself if another dog, or person for that matter, was attacked like Bruno was.”

The 34-year-old, who works in social care, said she has decided to take the incident further by reporting it to police for fear of it happening again.

“The owner apparently just kept saying ‘they’re good dogs, and they just thought your puppy was a toy which is why they did it’ which has really worried me.

“My four-year-old daughter had a teddy bear picnic up in that part of the woods not too long ago. If she wanted to do that again and these dogs launched towards her like they did to Bruno it would have been a panic frenzy.

“They are completely out-of-control and something needs to be done to protect families and other dogs in the area.”

Julie said her daughter and her partner’s children have been left traumatised by the incident.

They are unable to visit Bruno, who is still being treated at the vets, due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

“He’s just the most affectionate little thing, always wanting to give you kisses when you pick him up and this has just been horrendous, for all of us,” Julie said.

“We have had really difficult conversations with the vet and if he gets an infection in his wounds, which there is a high risk of, then he won’t make it.

“The children just love him to bits and it’s been so hard with Covid-19 restrictions because we can’t go and see him.

“When I first left him at the vets after the attack he was just howling and howling.

“I have grown up with dogs and seen some pass away but this has been the most traumatising and distressing experience I have had with dogs so far.

“I am not blaming the animals that attacked him, it’s down to the owner not having them under control.”

Bruno’s wounds have set the family back £1,700 so far, but there’s a high chance he will need to have further treatment.

In the attack he suffered a fractured hip, tearing to his abdomen and his back leg was damaged.

Julie said: “Money is not the issue here, of course when he first went in for treatment we just paid the money because the most important thing was just getting him home and safe.

“We are just concerned because he has had to be transferred to Dick vet hospital and their quote is £2000-£3000. If he requires a second surgery then this will rise even further.

“The whole thing is heartbreaking.”

Julie welcomed Bruno into her home a few weeks ago after his first owner fell ill and was unable to continue looking after him. She was working on sorting insurance for him but did not have it at the time of the attack.

Police Scotland has been contacted for comment.