UNITED KINGDOM -- A dog which mauled a five-year-old boy was being shown to schoolchildren as a last day of term treat, it has emerged.
The boy was attacked in the playground of a primary school in Co Antrim this morning.
Raymond Ross, principal of Carniny Primary School on the outskirts of Ballymena, said the animal had unexpectedly "turned" on the schoolboy.
[Update: The dog has been identified as a Malamute.]
"The dog was in a very controlled position. A number of children had the opportunity to stroke the dog and then suddenly the dog turned on the little child, as if it flicked its head to one side and caught the child in the face," he told the BBC.
Four adults were present at the time of the attack.
The boy was rushed to the Ulster Hospital on the outskirts of Belfast for emergency treatment to facial injuries.
A spokeswoman for the hospital said his family had requested no publicity.
Ballymena Borough Council confirmed the dog had been humanely destroyed this afternoon.
A statement said: "Our thoughts are with the child and his family at this distressing time. A representative from Environmental Health attended the school following the incident and, having liaised with those involved, instigated appropriate actions to seize the dog.
"The dog has now been put down.
"Ballymena Borough Council is working alongside all appropriate organisations to carry out a full investigation."
The Health and Safety Executive has also confirmed it has launched an investigation.
Ian Paisley, DUP MP for North Antrim, described the dog attack as shocking.
He said: "It is utterly shocking and very traumatic for the young boy. It shows that we have to be very vigilant when it comes to making sure that dogs are properly tethered at all times.
"My thoughts and prayers go out to the boy and his family."
Meanwhile, a statement from Carniny Primary School said staff had been left shocked.
"We can confirm an incident took place this morning involving a pupil and a dog. The school staff have found the incident to be very distressing. Our thoughts are with the child and his family."
(Belfast Telegraph - June 28, 2013)
