Tanya Kanstantsinava, 37, was walking down the street on September 5 when the bully-type dog leapt onto her and tackled her to the ground
A mum and her daughter have been left scarred for life after a dog ripped into their necks and faces in a random attack as they returned home from the shops.
Tanya Kanstantsinava, 37, was walking down the street on September 5 when the bully-type dog leapt onto her and tackled her to the ground. The animal pounced on Tanya and sunk its teeth into her neck on her doorstep in Coatbridge, Scotland.
As the dog bit down on Tanya, her 14-year-old daughter, who she has asked us not to name, came running from her house to help free her mum, but was bitten on the lip during the process.
The terrifying ordeal was only brought to an end when Tanya’s partner, Andrejs, eventually managed to force the dog’s jaws open to set the mother free.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Tanya said: “It was agonising and terrifying. As I was entering our building, without warning, the dog attacked. I was knocked to the ground and bitten multiple times across my face and neck. My daughter witnessed me on the ground and tried to help but it ended up going for her. She was screaming and her lip was left hanging off.
“There was blood everywhere and we were screaming, it was traumatising. It all happened so quickly that I went into shock and couldn’t react. With a lot of force, my partner managed to unlock its jaws from my face.
“If it wasn’t for Andrejs, I’m not sure I’d be here today – the dog had my neck in its mouth. He saved my life and I’m lucky to be alive.”
Tanya and her daughter were rushed to the Monklands Hospital before being transferred to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where they each had to receive multiple stitches for deep gashes to their faces.
Tanya was treated for deep gashes on her neck, nose and chin while her daughter had to undergo an emergency operation to mend her lip, which was “hanging off her face”.
Pictures show the extent of both of their horrific injuries, with bite marks visibly clear on Tayna’s neck and chin. Splashes of their blood were also pictured smeared on the walls of the flat block following the terrifying ordeal.
Tanya, who previously complained to the council about the dog showing aggressive behaviour, now feels “too scared” to leave her home.
The mother said: “I’m terrified, constantly on edge and too scared to leave my home. As a family, we have been rocked by this. We’re scarred mentally and physically for life. I complained to the council about this dog and the result of that has been an attack. We feel let down.”
The owner of the dog, a 28-year-old woman, was arrested and charged following the incident and has since been released on bail. The dog was seized by police.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.45pm on Friday, 5 September 2025, police were called to a report that a dog had bitten three people in Viewfield Road, Coatbridge.
“The three people were taken to Monklands District General Hospital for treatment.
“A 28-year-old woman, the owner of the dog, has been arrested and charged. She has been released on an undertaking to appear at court at a later date. The dog has been seized by officers.”
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: “Any attack on a person is initially dealt with by Police Scotland under the Dangerous Dogs Act. They may then refer the facts to the council for follow-up in terms of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.
“We received a complaint from Ms Kanstantsinava on July 7 about an allegedly aggressive bull breed dog belonging to a neighbour, which was investigated by the area Dog Warden.
“As a result, a letter was sent to the dog owner advising that a Dog Control Notice may be issued if any further complaints about the dog were received. No complaints have been received since then.
“We were contacted this morning by Police Scotland and have provided information about the complaint in July.”