Illegal XL Bully Ordered for Destruction After Grisly Glasgow Attack
An illegal XL bully dog that consumed part of a man's body in a horrifying incident at a friend's house in Rutherglen, near Glasgow, is set to be destroyed under a court order. The gruesome attack has led to significant public outcry and substantial police expenditure.
Horrific Discovery and Investigation
The remains of 38-year-old Scott Samson were discovered in his blood-soaked living room on Castlefern Road in March of last year. He had been watching the dog for a friend at the time. A post-mortem examination could not definitively determine whether Samson was killed by the animal or died from natural causes, leaving the exact circumstances of his death inconclusive.
Samson's mother, Morag, 60, expressed fury upon learning that the dog was still being cared for nearly a year after her son's death. The animal was housed in one of only three approved kennels in Scotland that board seized XL bullies, a situation that has drawn criticism for its high costs.
Court Order and Financial Burden
Last week, Glasgow Sheriff Court issued a destruction order for the four-year-old dog, which will now be euthanised by a veterinarian. Police sources reveal that nearly £50,000 has been spent keeping the dog in approved kennels since the incident.
A source explained: "There are only a few approved dog kennels in Scotland where XL bullies or suspected XL bullies seized by police or involved in criminal cases can be kept. Because there are only a few, they can charge what they want, and it costs around £50,000 a year to keep a dog."
Legal and Emotional Fallout
In January, prosecutors confirmed that no criminal charges would be filed, despite the dog being unregistered and identified by a breed expert as a banned XL bully. The dog belongs to 37-year-old Neal Stark, also from Rutherglen, who gave it to a friend when he was jailed for drug offences in February. That friend then handed it to Samson to mind while on holiday.
Morag stated that police did not inform her the dog had attacked her son when his body was found. She attended his funeral in April without knowing the brutal truth, which only emerged weeks later from a post-mortem report. Initially, police told her Samson died from an accidental drug overdose, but the post-mortem indicated this was inconclusive and he might have been mauled to death.
Morag recounted: "Scott was dead within days of picking the dog up. I didn't hear from him and knew something was wrong and called the police. When we went in, the dog was in the hall, and I could see Scott's legs and his black shorts in the living room." She added that dog catchers were initially unable to remove the aggressive animal.
Official Response and Next Steps
A Police Scotland spokesman stated: "A destruction order was issued by Glasgow Sheriff Court. Arrangements will be made for the dog to be euthanised by a veterinarian." The case highlights ongoing concerns about banned breeds and the logistical challenges of handling such incidents in Scotland.
