A funeral mourner has made his peace with the owner of a bull terrier that savaged his spaniel at Aberdeen Crematorium.
Bill Griffin, 59, was left terrified for his dog Brodie’s life last Thursday when a Staffordshire bull terrier sank its teeth into his hind legs.
Too concerned about his springer spaniel’s health to get its owner’s details, Mr Griffin panicked, and rushed the blood-covered Brodie to the vet.
Now after alerting Press and Journal readers about the possible dangers to other pets and children, he has been approached by the owner.
The woman phoned Mr Griffin to tearfully apologise – and offered to pay for Brodie’s veterinary bills.
Mr Griffin, who had taken his dog out to stretch his legs after attending a funeral at the crematorium, said: “I was really pleased when she phoned me, she said that she had been worried sick about Brodie, she was very apologetic.
“She said she had tried to get my registration on my car but I had apparently sped off too quickly for her to see it.
“She said her dog had never done anything like it before, and that he had been brought up to socialise with other dogs from a very young age. The only thing she can think of that might have set her dog off was that she leant down to give Brodie a biscuit.
“She has learned her lesson with this, and said that she will now keep her dog on a lead when out in public.
“I’ve made contact with the dog wardens at the council, and they said they’ll call to have a chat with her as well.”
Mr Griffin said the staffy’s owner had gone to great lengths to make amends.
He added: “She’s going to settle my vet bill as well, and if I can’t get the blood out of my suit she’ll give me compensation for a new suit as well, she was obviously really sorry for the whole experience.
“Brodie has been fine. He’s drinking water again, and in the waiting room at the vets he went over and said hello to the other doggies, so the experience hasn’t affected him too much I don’t think.
“It really could have been a lot, lot worse.”