A five-year-old has been left with life-changing after her neighbour's dog pinned her down and tore into her face. Elsie was playing with her friends outside her home when the Staffordshire bull terrier attacked her.
She has had to have three operations so far and faces more, reports MyLondon. 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 was attacked at 5pm on September 25 whole she and sister Amelia, 9, were playing with friends in a secure area at the back of their block. The neighbour's dog was released into the area without a lead or muzzle on and charged directly at Elsie.
Elsie pictured after she bravely underwent surgery three times
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.
She 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.'"
Five-year-old Elsie pictured with her mum, Kirsty, and her dad (Image: MyLondon)
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."
