A mother has spoken of the harrowing experience of having to punch and kick an American Bulldog away from her four-year-old daughter. Amy Hobson, 32, pulled a bloody Luna-Ann Forsyth away from the animal while it pinned her to the ground at a friend's home, The Mirror reports.
The girl was then taken to A&E by taxi when 999 call handlers informed Amy that it would take several hours for an ambulance to arrive. The attack, which took place last Thursday (April 6) afternoon, left Luna-Ann requiring plastic surgery and 40 stitches on her face.
The child was operated on for over two hours, with doctors saying she will be left with permanent scarring. Amy said that she has fallen out with the dog owner when they allegedly kept the dog's location secret, refusing to give it up to the police for more than 24 hours.
She has posted photos of her daughter's face following the attack to raise awareness. Amy, her friend, Luna-Ann and her brother Darren had been shopping and got back to the pal's home in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, around 3pm.
The dog had been locked in an upstairs room, but managed to get the door open and bounded down the stairs, Amy said.
"The dog came up to me so I gave him a fuss like I always have done, my daughter Luna shouted the dog's name so she could fuss him just like she always has done," full-time mum Amy said. "He got hold of her face and got her to the ground.
"I was kicking and punching the dog to get him off her and I got my little girl off the floor, and called 999 straight away. They said they couldn’t get an ambulance out to me, it was going to be a few hours for them to get to me, so I got a taxi to A&E."
She added: "There was loads of blood. Luna was calm and brave, it was me that was panicking and crying."
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Amy said she lives with her family on the same street in Camp Hill as where the attack happened. Referring to the dog owner, she said: "We are no longer friends as after the attack happened she hid the dog from the police for over 24 hours."
She believes the dog was around four years old. Luna-Ann was able to go home on Saturday evening.
She was initially taken to George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton before being transferred to University Hospital Coventry. Amy said: "Even after everything, she is still smiling."
Doctors said the cuts will take around 12 months to heal. Police confirmed yesterday an investigation has been launched.
There is confusion over the fate of the dog. Initial police reports suggested it had been destroyed but a post on social media from Nuneaton and Bedworth Police said it was being "assessed".
A Nuneaton and Bedworth police spokesperson said: "We’re investigating an incident in which a child was bitten by a dog in the Camp Hill area of Nuneaton on Thursday evening 6 April)
"The incident took place inside a property. The child sustained facial injuries, which required hospital treatment. The dog has been seized and destroyed. Enquiries are ongoing."
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