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A mum told of her horror after her seven year old daughter was mauled by the family pet
A mum whose little girl was mauled by the dog she “adored” told of her horror after hearing the seven-year-old’s screams, and finding the youngster covered in blood.
Mia, aged seven, was one of three children left with horror injuries after a spate of dog attacks in just 48 hours, according to South Yorkshire Police. The force warned families they were more likely to be bitten at home by their own pet than anywhere else. with children under seven most at risk.
It revealed a 16-year-old girl was rushed to hospital for reconstructive surgery after being mauled by a Cane Corso at a property in Rossington on January 29. A shocking photo showed a huge chunk of skin hanging off her arm, and the dog was destroyed at the scene by firearms officers, with permission from the owner.
Two days later, in nearby Sheffield, Mia was left with bite injuries from two-year-old Bane, the Pocket Bully, and then five hours later in Thorne, near Doncaster, a seven-year-old boy was mauled by a Pit Bull and suffered puncture wounds.
Speaking to the Mirror about Mia’s ordeal, mum-of-two Rebecca Fisher, 29, from Sheffield, told how Mia and the two-year-old Pocket Bully called Bane had “adored each other” before he struck out. She described it as a “freak accident” because Bane had been unwell.
She revealed how her daughter has now had two operations since she was bitten on Friday, January 31. She’s now had more surgery to reopen her face and drain it, as she had an infected abscess.
“It was one of the most traumatic experiences I’ve ever been through, seeing my daughter covered in blood because of a freak accident,” the mum told the Mirror. “Our dog was the most loving but was unfortunately unwell.” The mum explained she’d left the room “for a minute” to visit the bathroom when it happened.
“He did what he always does with my children and laid on my daughter. But because he’s a heavy dog he was squashing her, so as she’s gone to shove him down, she’s caught his belly – which was painful to touch for him – and he’s just turned around and snapped at her, catching her in multiple places
“She has a cut on her hip, and the right side of her face has multiple wounds from his paws catching her face, as well as his tooth going deep into her cheek.” Recalling how their ordeal began, she told how Mia had shouted up at her as she was in the bathroom. “I said i’ll be one minute, then a few seconds later I heard Mia screaming. It was the worse thing ever. My other daughter came downstairs to pass me something to stop the bleeding.
“It has affected my 10-year-old more than it has Mia. She’s struggling to sleep and can’t even look at Mia’s face as it’s really scared her.” Mia had emergency surgery the following day to fix her cheek. “She has a long road to recovery, but it hasn’t dimmed her sparkle and she still has a massive love for dogs,” her mum said. Their dog is now being held in police kennels.
South Yorkshire Police has been issuing regular warnings about dangerous dogs, revealing in December how in a space of 13 minutes on one day, armed police officers responded to three separate incidents of dogs dangerously out of control.
This week, it said the ‘risk continues’ as it issued pictures of the three attacks under a ‘warning’ about the graphic images.
It said: “We share these images to make people realise it can happen to you. Your dog can attack your child, it’s a fact; and owners must do more.”
Chief Inspector Emma Cheney, told how the force launched 347 dangerous dog investigations involving children under 15 in 2024.
“Last week on Wednesday, January 29, we were called by Yorkshire Ambulance Service who were on scene at a property in Rossington following a Cane Corso attacking a 16-year-old girl. The girl suffered serious injuries to her arm and was taken to hospital by ambulance, where reconstruction surgery was required. Due to the dog’s behaviour and the risk it posed, the dog was destroyed at the scene by firearms officers, with permission from the owner.
“On Friday, January 31 at 1.17pm we responded to reports of a ‘Pocket Bully’ attacking a …girl in Sheffield. The girl suffered facial puncture wounds and was taken to hospital. The dog was seized and remains in our kennels. A short time later at 6.31pm we responded to reports of a pit bull mauling a seven-year-old boy in Thorne. The boy suffered puncture wounds and was taken to hospital. The dog was seized and remains in our kennels.”
Leading the force’s work on dangerous dogs, Chief Inspector Cheney said: “In 2024 we launched 347 investigations into dangerous dogs involving children under 15. You are more likely to be bitten within a home by a familiar dog than anywhere else, and children under the age of seven are more likely to be attacked as they are unable to understand a dog’s display of warning signs.
“The demand, dangerous dogs continue to place on our force, is unprecedented and within one 48-hour period we have sadly seen children suffer the painful consequences of dog attacks. We are committed to protecting the public and our work with the NHS, organisations and charities continues to prevent attacks and safeguard those in proximity to dogs, but owners must step up, parents must step up.
“Simple changes to your dog’s routine, or conversations with your children about respecting your dog’s space can be the difference between life and death.”
The force issued guidance families should be following, including to avoid leaving children and dogs unattended, and to make sure your dog has somewhere safe and comfortable to go to when you have visitors. As your family grows and your children become older, changes in your house may need to be made. As children become more mobile, consider stair gates to separate your dog and child.”
Police seized more than 4,500 suspected illegal dogs since the introduction of a new law banning unregistered XL Bullys. The Mirror has campaigned to crack down on the number of fatal dog attacks.
