A FAMILY dog has been put down after biting an eight-year-old girl in the face.
The one-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier attacked the youngster, puncturing her cheek in three places, at her home in Sutton-in-Ashfield on Saturday.
Despite the ordeal for her daughter Charley, mum-of-three Sarah Madigan said she did not blame the dog.
Mrs Madigan, 37, is adamant Staffies should not be unfairly stereotyped, and says people should not blame the breed.
She said: "Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I really feel you can't blame the breed. People need to realise that any dog is a danger.
"I was so shocked about what happened. We took Sydney in about six months ago and he'd become one of the family.
"I've never seen a Staffie so soft. He never showed any sign of aggression and had never gone for anybody before.
"Whenever we had visitors he would run upstairs and bring a teddy bear down from the bedroom – that's how soft he was.
"It just goes to show that any dog can be a risk."
Mrs Madigan had been sitting in her living room with Charley and her other children, Rhyanna, 11, and 17-month-old Isabella when Sydney attacked at about 6.30pm.
She said: "Charley was sitting on the rug playing with some toys when the dog came in out of the kitchen. I was sitting on the sofa with my youngest daughter.
"I must have looked away for a split second, and before I knew it the dog was attached to the side of Charley's face.
"It looked as if he had just clamped down on her cheek. I flew off the sofa and went to get him off her. I had to really force him to back away.
"Charley's got three puncture wounds, one of which has gone almost straight through her cheek."
The youngster, who attends Leamington Primary Academy, was taken to hospital by her dad Bertie, where doctors treated the wounds with steri-strips.
Back home, Mrs Madigan had locked Sydney in the downstairs toilet and contacted the police.
The dog has since been put down.
Sarah added: "The PDSA told me he would be euthanised within the hour and asked me if that was what I wanted. I said it wasn't what I wanted, but it was what needed to happen. There was never any doubt that he had to go.
"Charley was quite upset and asked if it was her fault. I told her it wasn't as sometimes dogs just turn."
Charley, described by her mum as a "brave soldier", is back at school and recovering from her ordeal. Sarah says the family will not be getting another dog.
PDSA head of pet health and welfare, Nicola Martin, said: "Any dog, even family pets, can sometimes display problem behaviour. Any dog, whatever the breed and size, has the potential to cause harm through aggression.
"Prevention is key, through careful socialisation of puppies and seeking professional assistance at the first signs of problem behaviour developing.
"Socialisation is the process of gradually introducing puppies to everyday sights and sounds during their first few weeks of life.
"Anyone concerned about their pet's behaviour should seek help as soon as possible. Their vet is the best place to start, as they can check for any underlying medical causes first. They can then advise on the right approach for addressing any problem behaviour."
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