Dog attack: Girl, 5, in hospital with facial injuries

THE dog that severely mauled five-year-old — biting off most of her nose — belonged to her aunty who had recently moved into the family home.

A child understood to be 5 years old has been rushed to Westmead Children's Hospital this evening after a reported dog attack in Pendle Hill. Paramedics were called to the Bombala Street address just on 7.30pm where it was reported the child had been bitten by a dog and had sustained facial injuries. The child was briefly treated on scene by paramedics before being taken straight to Hospital. Police are in attendance at the location and have been seen taking photos of a dog chained up on the front lawn of a house. Picture: TNV

THE dog that severely mauled a five-year-old girl — biting off most of her nose — belonged to her aunty who had recently moved into the family home.

The girl was attacked in the front yard of their house on Bomballa St, Pendle Hill about 7.30pm last night, with shocked paramedics arriving to find the youngster with “most of her nose bitten off”.

The huge “monster of a thing” — believed to be a Great Dane, Bull Arab cross — was brought to the home by the aunty’s partner and was chained up and being fed when the attack occurred.

The dog plays with a man in the front yard of the home. Picture: TNV

The dog has been secured and it is understood the dog’s owner wants it destroyed.

The five-year-old girl is in a stable condition at The ­Children’s Hospital at Westmead after undergoing plastic surgery after suffering injuries under her right eye and nostril.

Neighbour Gay Buckworth described her as a “very nice little girl”.

“It sounded terrible. She will be left with scars for the rest of her life,” she said.

Mrs Buckworth said the girl would often play in the backyard with her young brother and she would give the children chocolate.

She said the family had previously owned a dog.

Another neighbour said they had seen the dog that bit the five-year-old at the home regularly and the family would often walk it in the street.

“She’s a beautiful little girl. It’s a shame what happened. You shouldn’t mix animals with children you never know what they are going to do,” one neighbour said.

The dog was apparently owned by the aunty of the injured girl. Picture: TNV

A police officer takes a picture of the dog which is tied up to the front porch of the home. Picture: TNV

Paramedics work to stabilise the young girl who was attacked by the dog. Picture: TNV

A NSW Police spokesman told The Daily Telegraph that officers would investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, including the nature of the dog involved, and make recommendations to the ­council over whether it should be destroyed.

“The dog has been secured and an investigation into the ­incident is now underway,” a police statement read.

“Police are liaising with local council in relation to the dog.”

The girl’s distraught mother waited desperately for help to arrive with a cloth held up to her child’s face in an attempt to stop the severe bleeding.

The dog is believed to be Great Dane/Bull Arab cross. Picture: TNV

In NSW, under the Companion Animals Act, dog owners are held liable for injuries and deaths caused by their pets. The legislation also provides for fines of up to $4400 if an attack is carried out by a “dangerous, menacing or restricted dog”.

The RSPCA advised all dog owners to desex their pets if they are not used for breeding.

According to the association, “heredity, early experience, socialisation and training, health, and the behaviour of the victim” are the main factors contributing to dog attacks.