Leah Carter, from Bradford, had knocked on her friend's door when the Staffordshire Pit Bull Terrier mix jumped up and mauled her face on the doorstep.
Her mother Sarah Nelson, 33, says her child will be scarred for life and the seven-year-old has even asked her: 'Will I always be ugly?'
The animal left her needing 35 stitches because he bottom lip was nearly hanging off and she also had a hole in her cheek.
The dog belonged to the then-partner of Colleen Bray, 34, and she had been looking after when it attacked the schoolgirl, a court heard today.
Miss Carter had visited to invite one of Bray's children out to play before she was seriously injured by the animal on April 22 this year in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
Leah's father, who lived across the road, heard her screams and ran over to protect her.
The attack left Leah with a hole in her cheek and a tear on her bottom lip - both injuries requiring an overnight stay in hospital followed by surgery.
Leah needed 35 stitches - 20 for her bottom lip and 15 for her cheek.
Bradford Magistrates Court heard that Leah 'was lucky to have her lip intact' after the incident.
District Judge Richard Clews said: 'It sound like it could have been torn off in those circumstances.'
The court heard Leah's 'scars are permanent, she is going to be scarred for life'.
Nadine Clough, prosecuting, read some sections of Leah's interview with police in which she said she heard Bray tell her daughter not to open the door, but she did.
She described the animal jumping on her and said 'it scratched my mouth and bit it'.
Leah also told police the dog had 'scratched her on the hip in the past' after she had hit it accidentally with her skipping rope
She also told police 'she would be happy the dog was no longer there and she would be scared to see it again'.
Bray had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of being the person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. Today she was given a four month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, and an order was also made to destroy the dog.
District Judge Clews said: ' It was very lucky she didn't lose the bottom lip altogether or part of it at least.'
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| Colleen Bray, owner of the pit bull |
He said the dog also bit a hole though her cheek.
'These injuries have resulted in permanent scarring,' he said. 'They will be a permanent reminder to her to the horrific experience she was subject to.'
The judge said she was a 'tough little girl' with a bubbly personality but highlighted the psychological effects the attack had on her. He said she is stressful and anxious when she sees larger dogs or around people who have large dogs.
Amjid Khan, for Bray, said: 'If she could turn the clock back she certainly would have done things differently.'
He said his client has accepted full responsibility for what happened.
When asked why Bray shouted for the door not be opened, Mr Khan said 'simply she did not want the dog out of the house'.
Bray, who is on benefits (aka welfare), was told to pay £500 to Leah in compensation and must complete a community requirement of up to 33 days. She was also disqualified from being in charge of a dog for 12 months.
Speaking after the sentence Leah's mother Sarah Nelson, 33 said: 'There is a big circle on her cheek and under her lip there is a big scar. She asked will I have these for life, she said "will I always be ugly?".'
She added: 'It is horrible to think your little is thinking that' and that Leah is terrified of all dogs now'.
She looks beautiful in this last photo. Compare her relatively minor scars compared to some children attacked by pit bulls. This is nothing. I hope her mom doesn't continue to dramatize it.
(Daily Mail - Aug 18, 2016)
