A Peterhead man has admitted being in charge of a dog that attacked a police officer.
Constable Matthew McKay was part of a team looking for a missing person in the town’s Love Lane area when he was attacked by an Alsatian last September.
A minute later, the dog’s owner Kevin Ross appeared from a block of flats and put the dog – which was still growling and barking – on a lead.
At Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday, Ross admitted being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control on September 26 last year.
Fiscal depute Ruaridh McAlister told the court police were working on an investigation at the time.
Mr McAlister said: “On the afternoon of September 26, police officers were in the area as part of a missing person inquiry.
“They were met by an Alsatian-type dog. The dog was wearing a body harness but no lead.
“It began barking at the officers and it bit Constable McKay on his elbow causing bleeding.
“The accused came from a block of flats and said he would get a lead. Around a minute later he put a lead on the dog and reacted angrily at it.
“Constable McKay was taken to Peterhead Community Hospital for treatment.”
Defence agent Sam Milligan said that since the incident, the dog has been muzzled and kept on a lead.
Mr Milligan said: “The dog is four-years-old and Mr Ross has had it since it was a puppy.
“The police informed the local dog warden and Mr Ross was required to use a muzzle and lead on the dog when out in public.
“There have been no further incidents.
“Mr Ross was very apologetic to the police officers at the time.”
Sheriff Christine McCrossan deferred sentence on Ross, whose address was given in court papers as Love Lane, Peterhead, until November 13.