UNITED KINGDOM -- A MOTHER has spoken of her disgust following the failure of authorities to put down a dog that mauled her two-year-old daughter.
Toddler Icy Thomas-Day lost half of her eyelid after it was bitten off by her neighbour’s pet when she tried to hand it a dog chew last July.
The West Highland Terrier left Icy screaming in agony in front of her horrified parents and two brothers.
Toddler Icy Thomas-Day lost half of her eyelid after it was bitten off by her neighbour’s pet when she tried to hand it a dog chew last July.
The West Highland Terrier left Icy screaming in agony in front of her horrified parents and two brothers.
Mrs Thomas-Day spoke out after a young girl was mauled in front of her parents in a park in Essex last week.
sustained serious injuries to her neck and shoulder in the dog attack, and underwent plastic surgery in hospital..
Mrs Thomas-Day said: “I think it’s disgusting. The police could have done more. They’ve said sorry but that’s not good enough. The dog should have been put down but there is nothing we can do now – we’ve run out of time.”
Officers advised the victim’s family that under the Dangerous Dogs Act no action could be taken due to the attack taking place on private property. They were told they could pursue civil action.
However, during Dorset Police's enquiries, it was concluded that under the provisions of the 1871 Dogs Act that it was very unlikely that a court would order the destruction of the dog.
A Dorset Police spokesman said: “In light of any civil action that the family may be considering, it would be inappropriate to discuss this matter in any further detail.”
Mrs Thomas-Day, of Weymouth, added that the six month time limit to pursue civil action had now run out.
Icy and her family were in the neighbour’s garden celebrating the dog’s third birthday when the dog scratched Icy’s face several times before biting her. She later endured two-and-a-half hours in [surgery].
Although Icy is not blind she receives regular eye checkups at Great Ormond Street Hospital as further eye problems still may occur with extensive eyelid surgery needed when she is older.
Icy has improved each day since the incident. However, Mrs Thomas-Day is now worried about the effect on her eight-year-old son Jet who witnessed the attack.
Mrs Thomas-Day said: “I don’t think it’s fair that we have to go through all of this and the dog is still alive. The dog owners did not even get in touch to ask how Icy was.”
She said the dog’s owners, who have a holiday home in Portesham, but live in Salisbury, had told officers that they were not prepared to have their dog put down.
The family have now left their former home in Portesham to escape the memories of the attack and because of Icy having trouble sleeping.
(Dorset Echo - Jan 28, 2012)
