Leeds girl, 8, got nine stitches after being mauled by dog

A mother has shared a graphic picture of her eight-year-old daughter’s injuries after she was mauled by a dog in an effort to warn other parents about the canine.

Kerry Garforth’s daughter Mia was attacked by the Husky-type dog, named Zeus, in the village of Roberttown, near Leeds, West Yorkshire.

The little girl needed nine stitches for the wounds on her face and is now nervous around dogs.

The mother of two said: ‘I want to make everyone aware of a dog that gets walked round Roberttown/Norristhorpe, it’s a Husky and is walked by a man in his mid-30s.

‘This dog bit my daughter in the face for which she needed nine stitches.’

Kerry Garforth’s eight-year-old daughter Mia (pictured) was attacked by a dog in Roberttown, near Leeds, West Yorkshire. She needed nine stitches after being mauled

The attack happened in June last year when Mia was seven but Ms Garforth, 33, is coming forward now because she still sees the dog walking around the village and she fears it could be a danger to other children. 

Ms Garforth said she asked an old school friend to look after Mia while she went for a hospital appointment and went back to pick up her daughter.

She said: ‘I was sitting on the sofa chatting to my friend and Mia was with her son having some tea. Suddenly I heard Mia screaming. The dog had bitten her after trying to take some food from her plate. She was stood there shaking.

‘We took her to Dewsbury Hospital but she was transferred to Pinderfields where she had about eight to nine injections and the wounds cleaned out with salt water.

‘My daughter’s father, Steve Crook, reported it to the police but when they came to see me about three to four days later I must admit I down-played it as she and her partner were friends and I didn’t want to get them into trouble.’

However her friendship with her old friend has since disintegrated and she says she feels guilty about not acting sooner.

Ms Garforth, 33, is coming forward now because she still sees the dog (pictured) walking around the village and she fears it could be a danger to other children

Ms Garforth, 33, is coming forward now because she still sees the dog (pictured) walking around the village and she fears it could be a danger to other children

She said: ‘He continues to walk past my house with the dog which is not only very upsetting for my daughter but I have to live with the guilt of what that dog did because I was at their house when it bit her.

‘The dog should never have been left alone with the children and I have to live with it, I think it’s very unfair I’m getting reminded by seeing the dog myself and seeing my daughter upset. Yes, it’s a public road but there’s absolutely no need for him to walk past my house.

‘Roberttown is a village full of children and I just want to warn anyone that has children playing out to be cautious.

‘I’m not saying the dog will do anything but considering the circumstances I’m now making it known to you all.’ 

She added: ‘I can’t sleep and I worry about Mia playing out. I don’t feel like I have been loyal to my daughter. This dog is walking around without a muzzle on either.

‘But at least now my conscience is clear.’

Former Kirklees mayor Martyn Bolt, and a Kirklees councillor for Mirfield, said he was ‘horrified’ by the picture of Mia’s face.

He said: ‘I would be interested to know what steps the police have taken and I think where a child has been bitten there should be an investigation and Kirklees Council should be involved in that.’  



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk