A Staffordshire pit bull terrier ripped away half of the six-year-old’s throat.
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| Chloe Ashman following the horrific attack |
Chloe is winning her fight for life but may NEVER speak again because of damage to her voicebox.
Her father Lee — who released the shocking snap — said: "The surgeons can’t believe my Chloe is alive.
"The dog clamped down on her neck and tossed her around like a rag doll. I want to make people aware of what these dogs can do so this doesn’t happen to anyone else."
Chloe was playing in the garden at home in Folkstone, Kent, with her two-year-old brother Samuel when the pet struck.
Lee, 34 — separated from Chloe’s mum Stacey, 27 — claimed her boyfriend brought the dog into the house after its owners gave it away following an earlier attack.
Stacey denied this.
The mum needed stitches in her hand after trying to force the dog off.
She said: "Samuel handed me a drill so I started hitting the dog with the drill. I was able to get my hand in his mouth but he just bit down again.
"My neighbour jumped over the fence and got the dog off. He is the hero."
The dog was put down. Chloe is stable after three life-saving operations at St Thomas’ Hospital in South London.
Four breeds of dog are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act — but they do not include Staffordshire Pit Bull Terriers despite a string of recent attacks.
A girl of five was mauled in Thurnscoe, South Yorks, a seven-year-old girl was badly hurt in Poplar, East London, and a tot almost lost her an eye in Bournemouth.
(Sun UK - June 19, 2008)
