A 12-year-old boy has been left traumatised and scarred for life after being attacked by a Rottweiler in an East Kilbride play park.
Kai Richardson was playing with friends when the powerful dog - which was unleashed - chased and bit him several times on his body leaving him needing stitches and a tetanus jab.
The shock attack happened near to South Park Primary School on Netherton Road on the evening of June 2.
Police have confirmed the owner of the dog, a 24-year-old woman, has been charged in connection with the incident under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and a report has been sent to the procurator fiscal.
A dangerous dog notice has also been served by South Lanarkshire Council ordering the owner to keep the canine muzzled and on a short leash in public places.
Kai's devastated mum Leanne told Lanarkshire Live "it's every mum's worst nightmare" as she described the terrifying ordeal.
"Kai was out playing with friends and I got a call by one of the mums to say Kai had been bitten by a dog", she said.
"He was bleeding and had a bite on his arm, a couple on his back and a deep hole on his bottom where you could see where the tooth went in. His tracksuit was ripped right through.
"Kai said he saw the dog coming towards him and went the other way but it ran after him. He tried to get away from it by running round the swing poles but it got a hold of him.
"He said it was trying to drag him down onto the ground."
Kai, a pupil of Duncanrig Secondary, spent five hours in A&E where he was given stitches and a tetanus shot and a course of antibiotics.
He told us: "I'm gutted and shocked that it happened and now when I'm out and see a dog I can't look it in the eye."
Leanne said the owner was with the dog and apologised and got Kai a plaster.
She alleges she was then contacted by the owner when she shared the incident on Facebook who claimed the dog was just being playful.
Leanne has hit back over claims her son's injuries didn't reflect a vicious attack.
She added: "I am a dog lover and owner and would never describe a dog breaking a child's skin as playful. There was a loss of control and my son got hurt. It's unacceptable.
"I'm so angry at this being played down as not vicious. The environmental health officer said I should be grateful it wasn't worse.
"Would they rather his arm was hanging off? No matter how bad my son's injuries were, he was bitten by a dog which should never have happened.
"What if that was a two-year-old who was knocked to the ground and their face got mauled?"
Leanne says EKYC player Kai has been left traumatised and experiencing frightening flashbacks and is now wary of other dogs.
"He was so pale after it happened, his hands were shaking", said Leanne. "He stayed home for a week and missed his football team's first ever tournament.
"He says he keeps seeing the dog coming for him out of the corner of his eye. I feel sick that he got hurt and have been in tears thinking about how much worse it could have been."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 5.40pm on Thursday, 2 June, police received a report of a 12-year-old boy bitten by a Rottweiler dog at Netherton Road, East Kilbride a short time earlier.
“Enquiries were carried out and a 24-year-old woman has been charged in connection with this incident. A report has been forwarded to the procurator fiscal.”
The Crown Office said it was yet to receive the report.
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “We were made aware of this incident by colleagues at Police Scotland.
“Following an interview with the dog owner, a dog control notice has been issued by Environmental Services.”
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