Six-year-old girl forced to undergo surgery after being mauled by off-leash dog

Parents feared the worst when an off-leash dog lunged at their six-year-old daughter during a Sunday outing in the Adelaide Hills.

Parents feared the worst when an off-leash dog lunged at their six-year-old daughter during a Sunday outing in the Adelaide Hills.

Margot McNicol was at Nairne’s newly opened off-leash dog park with her family and their puppy when an American Staffy attacked, grabbing her by the head.

The little girl was rushed to hospital and has since undergone surgery for her injuries.
Margot’s mother Christina heard her screaming and ran over.

Margot was mauled by an American Staffy at an off leash dog park in Adelaide. Picture: 7NEWS

“I saw the dog had her head in its mouth and was pulling her hair like a tug of war,” she told 7News.

She said it took four adults to get the dog off her daughter.

Margot was taken to hospital with multiple puncture wounds, scratches and bruises, but her parents are grateful it wasn’t worse.

Her father Braedan said that if the dog had taken her neck or face instead of the top of her head. “It would have been a completely different story,” he said.

The council is now investigating the incident. The owner will be fined $300 and a decision is expected to be made about whether the dog is euthanised.

Originally published as Six-year-old girl forced to undergo surgery after being mauled by off-leash dog