Rottweiler dog attack in Dent Close could have killed girl

The girl, aged just seven at the time, suffered a deep bite wound to her face when the ferocious Rottweiler leapt at her and latched onto her cheek during the attack outside her home in Dent Close, Worcester.

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James Palmer, who owned the dog, appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday where he admitted being the owner/person in charge of a dangerously out of control dog (a Rottweiler) during the attack on April 11 last year. Sentence has been adjourned until June 24 to get more information from a dog liaison officer who has recommended the dog's destruction.

BRAVE: The girl pictured in a hospital bed at Worcestershire Royal Hospital after the attack

In an exclusive interview the family has told the Worcester News that whatever the court decides, they do not want the dog living back in Dent Close, especially when so many children play on the grass outside.

Rottweiler attack in Dent Close

If the dog is permitted to live with his owner in Dent Close, they say they want to be moved by Platform Housing which manages the property.

SCENE: The grass area in Dent Close where the girl was attacked by the dog

"Imagine if it was a person who tried to kill you and you had to carry on living next to them. It was lucky - I feel the hoodie saved her life" said her 35-year-old stepfather.

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"If the dog had grabbed her neck, that would be it" he added.

The girl, now nine years old, said: "When his paws were on me I felt how strong he was. I felt the power."

Her 12-year-old brother, who was 11 at the time, also witnessed the attack, rushing upstairs to alert their mum.

PAINFUL: The wound to the girl's face had to be cleaned and stitched.

The dog was on a chain when she said Palmer told her he was 'friendly' and so she went a little bit closer and stroked him on the head.

"Then I saw he was looking at me and he looked like he wanted to attack me. He was looking me straight in the eye and looked like he was about to pounce. He jumped and bit" she said.

HEALING: The wound to the face now, more than a year after the dog attacked her

Palmer tried to pull the animal back and slapped the dog, she said. She estimates the attack lasted around two seconds but left a gaping wound to the left hand side of her face, on her lower cheek near the jaw, exposing the tissue beneath.

"I was shocked and scared. I didn't feel the pain. Neighbours were looking and told me to get in and tell my mum," she said.

An ambulance took her to Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester. She was initially given painkillers but the surgery could not be performed right away.

SAVAGE: The Rottweiler bit the child's face, causing a deep wound. Photo: Generic photo of Rottweiler by Getty Images

The wound had to be cleaned and stitched under general anaesthetic the next day and her family say there is still a lump under the scar. The skin still gets red when it is hot and can be itchy and cause discomfort to her more than a year after the attack. Medics are still unsure if she will need further procedures and are keeping things under review, her family say.

The family dispute 31-year-old Palmer's claim that their daughter was holding an ice cream at the time and say it was an older girl who was holding both ice creams when the dog attacked.

Her mum, 41, said: "I'm not really happy for him to have the dog back. She is just really lucky that the dog let go. I'm afraid the dog will attack other children."

COURT: James Palmer arrives at Worcester Magistrates Court. Photo: James Connell

We have recently reported the tragic case of Lawson Bond, age two, who died following an attack by the same breed of dog in Egdon on Monday, March 28.

"That really upset me" said the girl's mum of the boy's death. She described the dog that attacked her daughter as very large, coming up to her hip.

In particular, the family is concerned that, were a contingent destruction order made, the rules would not be followed and another child attacked.

A contingent destruction order means restrictions can be imposed instead of the dog being destroyed. This could mean, for example, the dog having to be muzzled in public.

Now, when the girl sees a dog, particularly one of the same breed, she stands behind her step-father for protection and wants to hold his hand.

She is very concerned for other children who live nearby and does not want the same thing to happen to any of them. "There are other kids here much smaller than me," she said.

Her mum said there were at least 10 other children who lived and played in the area, often on the grass outside where they had picnics in summer.

Despite what happened, the girl still loves animals and wants to be a vet. "Bunnies and kittens are my favourites" she said.