South Yorkshire Police have urged parents to take action after a three-year-old boy was mauled by a family pet in Doncaster.
The boy was bitten on the face by a registered XL Bully after the child attempted to climb the dog, resulting in the boy needing surgery earlier this week.
Chief Inspector Emma Cheney who leads the work on dangerous dogs in South Yorkshire said: “Children should never be unsupervised when with dogs, even family pets that you believe ‘would never hurt’ your children.”
She added that although the family acknowledged the new legislation around the XL Bully breed, “this doesn’t remove the danger that these dogs pose and why the ban has come into place”.
Chief Insp Cheney has encouraged parents to make sure their children are aware of the importance of respect for a dog’s space.
The dog in question was seized by police after the attack on 18 March and remains in kennels while South Yorkshire Police’s investigation continues.
Chief Insp Cheney has urged parents to “take action now and protect your children”.
For more information about dog safety, please visit Blue Cross Charity website.