A four-year-old girl will be permanently scarred after an American Bulldog attacked her. The attack has left the girl with several cuts which will take around 12 months to heal.
The dog itself has since been destroyed after being handed over to police. Amy Hobson, 32, was visiting a friend's home with daughter Luna-Ann Forsyth when the attack happened.
It took place on Thursday (April 6) afternoon after Amy had been shopping with her friend and Luna-Ann. They arrived back at the friend's home in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, at around 3pm.
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Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Amy said the dog was upstairs in a room which had its door closed. But the dog managed to open the door and came running 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. 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."
Luna-Ann required plastic surgery and 40 stitches on her face during an operation lasting for over two hours. She was initially taken to the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton before being transferred to University Hospital Coventry, eventually returning home on Saturday evening.
Amy, who lives with her family on the same street as her friend, now says she has fallen out with them. She has alleged that her former friend hid the dog from police for more than 24 hours, with police confirming an investigation has now been launched.
Amy added: "There was loads of blood. Luna was calm and brave, it was me that was panicking and crying. Even after everything, she is still smiling."
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