COPS have issued a warning to dog owners after 10-year-old girl was left with bloody injuries after being mauled by an XL Bully in the neck.
The child was bitten by the unregistered dog in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, and remains in hospital – with three people having been arrested.
Chief Inspector Emma Cheney said: “We continue to urge people to stop thinking ‘it won’t happen to me’.
“Owners need to step up and be responsible, understand your dog, their behaviour and keep everyone safe.”
Officers responded to a property on Belvedere in Balby at 10.15am yesterday.
It is reported that the child was in the garden of a neighbouring property where the pet was housed.
The dog has attacked the child, aggressively ragged their head side and side and bitten their neck, causing serious laceration injuries, according to police.
The bleeding was controlled and her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
A woman, aged 37, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a banned breed of dog, allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and child neglect.
Two teenagers, aged 13 and 15, were also arrested on suspicion of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and possession of a banned breed of dog.
They have since been released from police custody.
The dog was seized and remains in police kennels.
Chief Inspector Cheney said: “This incident could have had a tragic ending and led to a fatality.
“We continue to urge people to stop thinking ‘it won’t happen to me’. Owners need to step up and be responsible, understand your dog, their behaviour and keep everyone safe.”
