Paisley schoolboy scarred for life by XL Bully gifted tickets to first Rangers game

A schoolboy who was left scarred for life by an XL Bully is set to attend his first Rangers game after he was gifted tickets by the club captain.

Teddy Kerr, five, was visiting family friends in Paisley with his mum, Chelsey, 32, and sisters, Brooke, ten, and Taylor, nine, when the dog targeted him.

The animal first bit into Teddy’s back, causing him to pass out with pain, before going for his face.

Mum Chelsey, rushed her son to the Royal Alexandra Hospital before he was moved to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children where he received 100 stitches to his face.

His gran, Marion Hanratty, believes the attack could have been fatal.

The bite mark on Teddy's back — The bite mark on Teddy’s back Supplied

The 66-year-old told STV News: “If the dog hadn’t been pulled off Teddy, we think he would’ve died.

“As this was happening, my daughter was having a panic attack. She wrapped him up and took him to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

“I was in a mess myself. All I could think about is that we might be burying our grandson.”

Teddy has been left with life-changing scarring on his face and back following the incident. The attack has also had a significant impact on the family mentally.

Marion said: “He doesn’t want to go out in the daylight in case people stare at him.

“He is suffering from nightmares; he doesn’t want to sleep. My daughter is also struggling to sleep.

“He has got scarring on his cheek, teeth marks on his back, and his breathing was quite shallow.

“Doctors were worried that the dog punctured his lung. We were told that he may need more surgery over the next year, but he will be left with scarring on his face for the rest of his life.”

The schoolboy required 100 stitches in his face. Supplied

Marion believes there should now be an outright ban on XL bullies. Currently, the legislation only requires the dogs to be muzzled in public.

She said: “Any dog can bite. We used to have a poodle that could give you a wee nip.

“But these big dogs are so powerful and heavy. Just the weight of the dog on Teddy could’ve stopped his heart.”

Following the attack, there has been an outpouring of support from fellow Rangers fans.

Teddy even received a letter from club captain James Tavernier, who gifted the five-year-old two tickets to the Gers bout against Dundee United at Ibrox on Saturday.

It will be the schoolboy’s first-ever game in the stands alongside his grandmother and sisters.

Marion said: “He has received a football strip, an invite to the Christmas party, books and lots of cards.

Rangers' captain James Tavernier gifted the five-year-old two tickets to the game — Rangers’ captain James Tavernier gifted the five-year-old two tickets to the game Supplied

“We are going for lunch next week with Broxy the Bear. People from America and Australia have sent messages to him.

“Just to see his wee face when he goes to Ibrox for the first time will be amazing. I think he thinks he is playing.”

Following the attack earlier in November, the dog was seized and destroyed. A 41-year-old man has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal for offences under the Dangerous Dog Act.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.05pm on Sunday, November 3, 2024, police received a report a five-year-old child had been attacked by a dog in Greenbank Drive, Paisley.

“The child was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the dog was seized.

“A 41-year-old man has been charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal for offences under the Dangerous Dog Act. The dog has been destroyed.”