A nail technician faced a terrifying ordeal when she was nearly killed in an unexpected dog attack that left her severely injured. The incident occurred when Samantha Redding, 20, was preparing to leave a friend’s home in January. She was suddenly attacked by a Spanish Mastiff-Akita, which viciously tore into her face, swallowing a portion in the process.
Samantha, who also works at a supermarket, recounted the horrifying details of the assault, explaining that the dog almost completely detached her upper lip. The brutal attack, lasting only five seconds, resulted in devastating injuries.
Upon seeing her reflection in the hallway mirror and realizing the extent of her injuries, Samantha quickly fled the house and made her way to the hospital.
Once there, she was immediately taken into emergency surgery, where doctors worked tirelessly to reattach the damaged skin. Since then, Samantha has undergone several surgeries to address her injuries.
One significant surgery lasted 12 hours and included a tracheostomy to aid her breathing, along with extensive reconstructive procedures. Surgeons used skin grafts from her arm and leg to begin rebuilding her face.
One was a 12-hour operation involving a tracheostomy to support Samantha’s breathing as well as reconstructive surgery to rebuild her face using skin grafts from her arm and leg.
She spent a month in hospital recovering from her injuries and will need further procedures in the future to restore full function in her face.
Samantha Redding, 20, was getting ready to be picked up from a friend’s house in January when she was mauled by a Spanish Mastiff-Akita
After looking in the hallway mirror and seeing ‘half her face was gone’, Samantha sprinted out of the house and headed to hospital
Samantha, who lives in Falkirk, Scotland, said: ‘I was in the house for all of five minutes.
‘When my [other] friend texted to say she was outside, I picked my bag, turned around and the dog jumped up off the couch onto its back legs and just latched onto my face.
‘The dog’s taller than me when it stands on its back legs.
‘I just remember it going for my face. I remember turning around, seeing myself in the mirror and seeing half my face was gone.
‘I’d met the dog loads of times before, I’d been around that dog since it was a puppy.
‘I literally just ran out of the house. I can remember the owner shouting ‘oh my god, oh my god’ and that’s about it.
‘At first it was just pure adrenaline. It didn’t just rip off a bit of my face, it actually ate it and swallowed it.
‘It took nearly my full top lip. I had a bite mark on my arm as well from where I was obviously was trying to push it off me.’
During the attack, Samantha lost a large part of the right side of her face, including her lip and cheek – and was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow.
There, Samantha underwent multiple operations to try and rebuild her face, including a 12-hour surgery reconnecting nerves and blood vessels using a skin graft from her arm and leg.
Samantha will need further surgeries in the future and admits the ordeal has been the ‘hardest time’ of her life.
She said: ‘I’ve been really struggling, I’ve not wanted to do anything.. When I have been out recently, I feel like everyone’s staring at me.
‘I still can’t open my mouth fully, I’ll be scarred for life from this.
‘I’ve got a little cavapoo and I still get wary when she barks. Sometimes when I tilt my head a wee bit, all I can see is that dog coming towards me.
‘It’s been the hardest time of my life. I want justice, I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.
Samantha spent a month in hospital recovering from her injuries and will need further procedures in the future to restore full function in her face
Samantha will need further surgeries in the future and admits the ordeal has been the ‘hardest time’ of her life
‘I’ve been through all the emotions. At first I was upset, but then when I came out of hospital, it’s all turned to rage.
‘The doctors said I was lucky because if that was even 1cm down, that could’ve been my neck and could’ve been a completely different story.
‘I could’ve died. Part of me feels lucky to be alive, but part of me feels like this should’ve never happened in the first place.’
A fundraiser has been launched to support Samantha through ongoing medical care as she rebuilds her life – donations can be made here.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: ‘A 38-year-old man has been arrested and charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with the Dangerous Dog Act 1991 and an outstanding warrant.
‘He appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Monday, 23 February, 2026.’
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed that a 38-year-old male from Falkirk appeared on Petition on February 23, 2026 at Falkirk Sheriff Court on a solemn matter.
He made no plea and was bailed for further examination. There are currently no further hearing dates set.
