UNITED KINGDOM -- A schoolgirl had a lucky escape after being mauled by a dog outside a Liverpool park.
Katy Dumbell, 15, was with friends on Sheil Road, Kensington, by Newsham Park, when she says an American Bulldog type dog attacked her.
Katy Dumbell, 15, was with friends on Sheil Road, Kensington, by Newsham Park, when she says an American Bulldog type dog attacked her.
The dog jumped on the Notre Dame High School pupil and clawed at her neck before biting her arms and legs, leaving her with gaping wounds.
The terrified Everton teenager managed with the help of her friends to get out from underneath the dog.
She says a man and woman came around the corner as they fought the dog off and put it on a lead before walking away.
Katy’s friends phoned for an ambulance and she was treated first at the scene and then later in hospital where she spent several days.
She was eventually allowed home this week and is now being looked after by her family.
Katy’s mum, Julie, 49, said: “She was supposed to be in at 10pm but teenagers being teenagers she rang at about five past to say she was just getting a taxi home.
“Ten minutes later I got another call from her friends hysterical saying she’d been bitten by this dog.
“Apparently it just ran straight at her, jumped up and knocked her to the ground.
“Had she not been wearing her leather jacket the injuries to her arms could have been much worse and the doctors said it was fortunate it was scratches on her neck and not a bite because of where it was.
“She was terrified of dogs before this because I am not a dog lover but she is recovering although in a lot of pain. We just want this owner and their dog to be caught before it attacks someone else.”
Police were called to the scene and local patrols went around the neighbourhood.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “Emergency services were called at about 10.15pm to Sheil Road to a report that a girl had been attacked by a dog and had sustained injuries to her leg, hand and neck.
“The dog, described as a boxer-type, had been with a woman prior to attacking the girl. Following the incident both the dog and woman left the scene.
“A search of the area was undertaken but proved unsuccessful.”
Anyone with information should ring police on 101 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.
(Liverpool Echo - Jan 28, 2012)