A DOG attack victim who needed plastic surgery after being mauled by her bulldog has told of her sadness that the pet had to be put down.

Animal expert Emma Taylor, 29, pretended to be lifeless after her American bulldog Maya turned on her during a woodland walk last week.

3 American Bulldog Maya had been in the family just six weeks

The quick-thinking action helped stem the ferocious assault before Emma was able to ring for help in Clydebank.

The dog lover remains in the high dependency unit in hospital as she recovers from plastic surgery after the attack.

She also revealed Maya has been put down and spoke of her sadness at losing "a much loved family member".

Emma said online: "Maya turned on me and attacked me. She caused severe damage to both of my arms, in particular the right arm.

"I managed to contact the police and ambulance service who attended the scene. They immobilised Maya, rounded up the other dogs and escorted me safely to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

"The plastic surgeons have worked on my arms and stabilised my medical condition over the last 9 days. I'm currently in high dependency, getting all the best treatment I could possibly ask for.

"I'm sad to say that Maya has been euthanized - she was a much loved family member."

The quick-thinking action helped stem the ferocious assault before Emma was able to ring for help in Clydebank.

3 She was mauled by her own rescue pet during a horror attack Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

A friend of the mum of one, who suffered horror arm injuries in the ordeal, said: “The dog was going to kill her.

“Emma lay on the ground and played dead and managed to reach for her phone with her left hand to call for help.

“She is an animal behaviourist — she knows about dogs. If she was a child she would be dead.”

Trained zoologist Emma, who helped Edinburgh Zoo’s giant panda project, was walking a group of pets near the Forth and Clyde Canal when Maya attacked.

Cops raced to the scene and used riot shields to stop the animal before herding it into a van.

It’s understood the dog was only taken in by Emma, partner Steven Burton and their one-year-old son six weeks earlier.

The mum, of Dumbarton, was rushed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary for emergency surgery and moved to a high dependency unit.

The source said: “Surgeons operated on her right arm. Doctors said she will lose some function in her left arm as well. She must have been trying to fight Maya off.”

The friend added: “Emma took her in as she fosters dogs, but Maya got on really well with their other dog, Caspar, and so they decided to keep her.

“They never had any problems with her before. But Maya had been spayed about two weeks before and her behaviour just changed. She was always so docile before."

3 Emma, Steven and tot with Maya and Casper

MOST READ IN NEWS EVACUATION Thousands forced to leave mega Brit caravan park as Covid lockdown rules start CLUB FURY Footballer who beat girlfriend & forced her to eat paint signs to new club DORM LOCKDOWN All 500 students in Scots uni halls told to isolate after positive Covid test Exclusive MOB TARGET Murdered Glasgow gangland figure was on hit list of two crime mobs before death Exclusive VIRUS HELL Scots gym lover, 21, warns of Covid as he faces months of rehab after battle FM PRAISED Sturgeon brands Tory GMB snub 'disgraceful' as Piers calls her a 'proper leader' Latest COVID CRISIS Nicola Sturgeon's new coronavirus lockdown restrictions for Scotland in full SMIRKING SUSPECTS Cops release footage of 2 laughing suspects after woman raped 'WOW' Piers says Nic's 'draconian' rules show she doesn't think Boris went 'far enough' CHARITY RIDE Dad cycles 200 miles from Glasgow to Manchester on daughter's pink bicycle

Dog specialists advise against fighting back during attacks. US expert David Wiley said: “Stillness is the best thing.”

Police and ambulance chiefs confirmed they attended the scene at 12.35pm on April 2.

Friends have now launched a fundraising page to support Emma during her recovery.

We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5200