A family are bidding to save their beloved dog from a death sentence after a sheriff ordered the pet to be destroyed.
Owner Martin McShane fought back tears when the verdict was reached following a trial at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew said the case involving Diesel the German Shepherd was the most difficult he had dealt with in his 35-year career.
And he said it was “with a heavy heart” that he had to order Diesel to be put down as he’d attacked Michael Lauchlan in Erskine, Renfrewshire, in February this year.
Now the distraught family have launched a petition in a bid to have the decision reversed.
More than 1,000 supporters have signed up to the campaign set up by Martin's wife Lisa on the website Change.org.
Lisa's plea reads: "Please sign the petition to save our beloved German shepherd Diesel.
"He felt threatened and so was only acting out to protect his family.
"He is genuinely not a bad dog, never bitten anyone previous to or after the incident. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help us save him."
During the trial the sheriff opted not to ban Diesel’s owner, Martin McShane, from being able to own pets, saying he considered him to be “a responsible dog owner.”
Martin, 33, was admonished after pleading guilty to breaking the Dangerous Dogs Act by being the owner of Diesel, who was dangerously out of control when he attacked Lauchlan.
The court heard that Lisa was pregnant at the time of the attack, which took place on February 19 this year at their home in Erskine’s Darroch Drive.
Sheriff Pettigrew was told that the family were looking to find another home for Diesel as they were due to have a newborn baby in the house.
And in their quest to find a suitable place for Diesel they were put in touch with Lauchlan, who is also from Erskine and is a manager and operator of RAF Police Military Working dogs.
Lauchlan headed to see Diesel to see if he would be a suitable animal to join the ranks at the RAF.
But when he entered the house Diesel began snarling and growling at Lauchlan before jumping on him and attacking him.
Due to the severity of the attack the police became involved and McShane was arrested and charged over the incident.
Sheriff Pettigrew, who became a solicitor in 1980 and was appointed as a sheriff in 2002, said he felt he had no option other than to have the dog destroyed.
Martin fought back tears as he was told Diesel would be destroyed while his wife Lisa, who was sitting in the public gallery, sobbed loudly.
They are now hoping to have the decision reversed and are asking animal lovers across Renfrewshire and beyond to sign the petition.