A make-up artist fears he will be permanently disfigured after a friend's usually "placid and friendly" dog savaged his face at house party.
Riaz Michael Devine's says his lip was left hanging off after the bulldog cross "snapped" at the gathering on October 23.
He believes the previously friendly pet, who he was familiar with, had become anxious about the large crowd forming at the flat in the south side of Glasgow.
Riaz is now warning pet owners to consider how stressful environments can trigger aggression in dogs .
Riaz told the Daily Record : "I know this dog and he is usually so placid and friendly, but as more and more people were coming into the flat he became anxious.
"He wasn't acting distressed, but he began sitting away from everyone and he became reserved. I went over to clap him and give him a cuddle and that's when he snapped."
Riaz, 31, was left shocked by the animal's sudden attack and was horrified to realise the extent of his injuries after running to a nearby mirror.
He added: "I froze when I saw the bottom half of my lip hanging off. Blood was pouring down my face.
"I panicked. I was crying and screaming for an ambulance."
Riaz, who lives in Tollcross, Glasgow, was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where doctors inserted weight-bearing structures into his face to hold up his collapsed flesh.
He explained: "The doctors said I was lucky I got to the hospital so fast because the damaged tissue was fresh, but my injuries will take months to heal.
"Right now I'm so swollen and sore and I'm worried I might be left permanently disfigured."
As Riaz recovers from his ordeal, he wants other owners and those spending time around pets to be respectful of animals needing their own space in situations that aren't natural to them.
He continued: "This attack has had such a massive impact on my life. I’m a make-up artist so I usually spend all my time in front of mirrors, but the way I look at the moment is a massive dent to my confidence. I can’t stand anyone face looking at my face.
"I was supposed to start a new job and I've had to delay my start date.
"I know this dog and he usually has such a lovely nature. This was totally out of character for him and it happened so quick.
"He shouldn’t have been in an environment where people were drinking and it was rowdy.
"Dogs are animals at the end of the day. We can’t communicate with them, so making them feel uncomfortable in their safe space will never end well. This could have been avoided and the whole situation is so sad."
