A six-year-old girl was mauled in the face by her pet dog in a 48-hour spate of ‘freak’ dog attacks on children.
Mia needed two rounds of surgery after being bitten in the face by the family’s two-year-old ‘Pocket Bully’ Bane.
The ‘freak accident’ was one of three savage assaults on children launched by dogs over 48 hours at the end of January.
A 16-year-old girl from Rossington was first attacked on the arm by a Cane Corso, which typically tip the scales to 50kg, on January 29.
Puncture wounds left after one of the ‘freak’ dog attacks (Picture: South Yorkshire Police/SWNS)
Injuries sustained by one of the children from a dog in Yorkshire (Picture: South Yorkshire Police/SWNS)
Graphic images show a huge chunk of skin hanging off the girl’s arm, which required reconstructive surgery.
The dog’s owners permitted the dog to be destroyed at the scene by officers.
Mia then fell victim to her pet dog, all because the family’s ‘adored’ Pocket Bully felt unwell.
The six-year-old had ‘shoved’ her dog’s belly, causing the pet to lash out and puncture the girl’s face.
‘It was one of the most traumatic experiences I’ve ever been through, seeing my daughter covered in blood because of a freak accident,’ the girl’s mum told the Mirror.
‘She has a cut on her hip, and the right side of her face has multiple wounds from his paws catching her face, as well as his tooth going deep into her cheek.’
Bane is now being held in police kennels.
Within hours of Mia’s horror attack, a seven-year-old boy from Thorne, about nine miles northeast of Doncaster, was mauled by a pit bull.
The boy also suffered puncture wounds and was taken to hospital.
Police shared the graphic pictures of the attacks, which all came from family pet dogs, in a warning to parents about the risks these animals pose to young children.
The force said: ‘We share these images to make people realise it can happen to you. Your dog can attack your child, it’s a fact; and owners must do more.’
Leading the force’s work on dangerous dogs, Chief Inspector Cheney said: ‘In 2024 we launched 347 investigations into dangerous dogs involving children under 15.
‘You are more likely to be bitten within a home by a familiar dog than anywhere else, and children under the age of seven are more likely to be attacked as they are unable to understand a dog’s display of warning signs.
‘The demand dangerous dogs continue to place on our force is unprecedented and within one 48-hour period, we have sadly seen children suffer the painful consequences of dog attacks.
‘We are committed to protecting the public and our work with the NHS, organisations and charities continues to prevent attacks and safeguard those in proximity to dogs, but owners must step up, parents must step up.
‘Simple changes to your dog’s routine or conversations with your children about respecting your dog’s space can be the difference between life and death.’
South Yorkshire Police have previously of the frequency of dangerous dog incidents.
It took just 13 minutes for armed police officers to be sent to three separate call-outs for out-of-control dogs last December.
Police forces have been engaged in a widespread crackdown against dangerous and illegal dogs.
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