East Renfrewshire man and dog injured in savage park attack

A stark warning has been issued for others to be “vigilant” after an East Renfrewshire dog was “horrendously attacked” and “shredded from head to toe” by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in a Glasgow park.

Gongo, who we recently reported found a new home in Giffnock several years ago after surviving a brutal machete attack in Tanzania, was left bleeding out and fighting for his life once again following the horrifying incident on Sunday, September 24.

Owner David Devlin also suffered fractured fingers as he tried to pull the animal off his beloved pet during the attack, which took place while he and wife Phyllis Hutchison and their three dogs were enjoying a walk in Cathkin Braes Country Park.

Gongo suffered horrific injuries in the attack (Image: Sourced)

Devastatingly, 64-year-old David, who enjoys playing classical music on the piano, was left with injuries so severe he was required to undergo three hours of surgery at Gartnavel Hospital and remained in plaster for six weeks.

Gorgeous Gongo had retained his loving and friendly personality despite previously suffering a machete attack which cost him his leg (Image: Sourced)

Phyllis, 73, told the Barrhead News: “It was a tan Staffie, but I don’t know if it was a mixed breed and if there was any other Pitbull or XL Bully in there.

“He came out of absolutely nowhere and with Gongo only having three legs, it grounded him completely.

“We have spent a week not knowing if he was doing to live or die.

"He’s got punctures to his head and muzzle and it shredded the roof of his mouth, his elbow and his ankle.

“He’s got staples in his elbow, all down his rib cage and four puncture wounds in his penile area, which are still infected badly and oozing.

“I said to the vet my first concern was his leg because this dog was going to rip his leg off.”

David and Gongo in happier times, left, and following the attack right (Image: Newsquest)

Indeed, so alarming and prolonged were Gongo’s screams that one woman who heard the attack unfold while she was out walking some distance away took to social media to report her concerns.

“In my opinion, it was a dog that was trained to dog fight,” added Phyllis.

“It was like a killing machine and the two owners, a young couple, all they did was stand there.

“The woman was screaming her head off and the guy was shouting 'I don't know what to do'.

“At one point my husband got the dog off of Gongo and the man never came forward to put it on a lead because he was too frightened of his own dog and he broke free again and got back at Gongo.

“The people ran in the direction of Castlemilk with their dog, eventually, when David got it off for a second time."

Gongo with Sophie and Ava, left, and, right, recovering in his bed (Image: Sourced)

Following the attack, Gongo had to be carried some miles back to the car, before being rushed to the Vets Now Emergency Hospital in North Street in Glasgow.

The attack occurred just weeks after he was the star of the show at Phyllis’ Clarkston fundraiser in aid of her charity Four Steps to Freedom, which works to wipe out rabies town by town in Tanzania and is naming their new veterinary and education centre in the African country after Gongo.

David, Phyllis, Sophie, Ava and Gongo out enjoying a walk during happier times (Image: Sourced)

Both the brave canine and his dad are now making a slow recovery, but all, including the couple’s two other dogs, Sophie and Ava, who are 15 and a half, have been left traumatised by what they witnessed and experienced.

Gongo, left, following the attack, and, right, out with Phyllis on a previous walk (Image: Sourced)

“I just want to warn people to be very careful and vigilant,” added animal lover Phyllis.

“I don’t want the dog walkers of Cathkin Braes that own bull breeds to think that I was shouting I want this dog put down because my first reaction was for Gongo’s safety, but my second reaction was ‘What has that dog been subjected to for it to be so angry?’.

"Humans have done this to this dog.

“We need to bring in legislation that if you have an animal like that it has to be muzzled and kept on a lead.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Officers received a report that a dog was attacked by another dog in Cathkin Braes on Sunday, September 24, 2023.

“The dog received treatment at the vet and a man, who suffered an injury attempting to separate the dogs, was treated at hospital.

“Further enquiries remain ongoing.”