Police have released the name of a mother who was mauled to death “by her own dog” as her “devastated” family paid tribute.
Michelle McLeod, 41, was pronounced dead at a flat on Foresterhill Road in Aberdeen after emergency services were called to the scene at around 11.15pm on Saturday, December 7.
Police Scotland confirmed that the dog, whose breed has not been revealed, had been put down.
In a statement, Mrs McLeod’s family said: “We are devastated by the loss of Michelle.
‘She was a mother, daughter and friend much loved by many and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
“We would like to ask that our privacy be respected and to allow ourselves to grieve at this very difficult time.”
Neighbors expressed surprise at the incident, and one told the scottish sun They thought McLeod had a bond with his pet, which he is believed to have acquired less than a year ago.
“I always thought the dog had a bond with her,” they said.
Ms McLeod was pronounced dead at a flat on Foresterhill Road in Aberdeen on Saturday.
Neighbors said they were shocked by the death of the 41-year-old man (pictured)
Another added that the apartment “would never be enough for a dog that size” and claimed that the animal was walked once a day.
The incident is the latest in a series of dog attacks that have resulted in deaths in the UK this year.
According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 16 deaths due to dog attacks in 2023, a sharp increase on previous years when the figure was in single digits.
In February it became an offense to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without a certificate.
It is also now a crime to sell or abandon an XL Bully Dog, or leave it lost, and it is illegal to have an XL Bully in public without a leash and muzzle.
Owners whose dogs are dangerously out of control are considered to be breaking the law, and penalties may apply including prison terms, disqualification from ownership, or euthanasia of the dog.