A five-year-old girl has been left scarred for life after her neighbour's dog tore into her face during a horrifying attack. Elsie was playing with friends outside her home when the Staffordshire bull terrier suddenly charged at the group and grabbed her by the face, MyLondon reports.
The youngster suffered life-changing injuries and has already underwent three surgeries, but still has several more to go. Her devastated mum Kirsty, 29, said: "She doesn't want to go out, particularly on public transport because she doesn't want people to stare at her.
"She hasn't been back to school since because she doesn't want her friends to see her like this."
Elsie and her sister Amelia, 9, were playing with friends in a secure area at the back of their flat block when the attack took place at roughly 5pm on September 25. The neighbour's dog was released into the area without a lead or muzzle on and charged directly at Elsie.
Elsie fell over as the children ran for safety, which allowed the dog to grab her by the face. Kirsty was watching the children play from inside.
Kirsty said: "I can remember the feeling of panic, seeing the dog on her face. I can't get that image out of my head." Kirsty rushed to her daughter and put her on her shoulder so the dog couldn't get to her. She said the dog continued to jump at Elsie until they reached the safety of another neighbour's house.
"There was blood everywhere and a chunk of her face was wide open. A chunk of her cheek was hanging off and you could see inside her nose through the bridge of her nose," Kirsty said.
"In the ambulance she was trying to fall asleep but the paramedics were talking to her to try to keep her concious. She turned to me at one point and said 'Mummy it's ok but I've got to go, I've got to close my eyes now.'"
Elsie had to undergo surgery for four hours. and her parents have been told she'll be seeing surgeons for the rest of her life. Police have seized the dog and another belonging to the same owner.
They remain in police kennels. A 56-year-old woman was interviewed under caution but no arrests have been made. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said their enquiries are ongoing.
The council is taking action to move Elsie and her family to a different house. Kirsty said: "It's very hard coming in and out of our home, seeing where they used to play. Every time I open the door it's right there. I can't look at the place where it happened, I can't put the bins out. The kids find it hard to come in and out, I have to carry Elsie and her older sister in every time.
"It's been catastrophic for our whole family. My partner, my kids, everyone is in counselling. We're all just traumatised."
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