Girl, 4, has 40 stitches after American Bulldog mauls her face

A four-year-old girl needed 40 stitches to her face after being mauled by an American bulldog. Little Luna-Ann Forsyth was dragged away from the animal's grips by her mum Amy Hobson, 32, following the bloody attack.

She then had to be taken to A&E by taxi after 999 call handlers said it would take several hours for an ambulance to arrive, the Mirror reports. Luna-Ann required plastic surgery and 40 stitches on her face following the incident last Thursday (April 6) afternoon.

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She was operated on for over two hours and doctors said she will be left with permanent scarring. Amy told the Mirror the dog owner allegedly hid the dog and refused to give it up to police for over 24 hours.

Amy, who shared the photos to raise awareness, said she, her friend, Luna-Ann and her brother Darren had just been shopping and arrived at the dog owner's home in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, around 3pm. The dog was closed off in a room upstairs but managed to open the door and came bounding down, she said.

Amy said Luna-Ann is still smiling despite everything (Amy Hobson)

"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."

Amy said her daughter remained calm throughout the whole ordeal (Amy Hobson)

She added: "There was loads of blood. Luna was calm and brave, it was me that was panicking and crying."

Amy believes the dog was around four.

Doctors said the injuries will take around 12 months to heal (Amy Hobson)

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, with the dog having been seized and destroyed.

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