A RESCUED dog advertised with the words "I love children" attacked its owner's two-year-old son an hour after arriving at its new home.

Jim, a 14-month-old cross-breed, left Harley Danks needing 10 stitches to his forehead and an overnight stay at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Harley's mum, Nicola Stewart, claimed her son did nothing to provoke the dog, which had been cared for at Forest Dog Rescue, Far Forest, for two months after he was abandoned - starving and flea-ridden - by an abusive previous owner.

After the attack, the rescue centre was called and took Jim back. The animal has since been put down.

"My little boy was standing by the TV and the dog just jumped and went for him," said Miss Stewart, 22, of Abbey Road, Kidderminster.

"He grabbed him by the forehead with his teeth.

"He's been waking up shaking and screaming every night since he's got back from hospital.

"I'm very angry about the fact they advertised it as loving children. They're supposed to know these things. I went to see the dog the week before I picked it up and it was very subdued and quiet. But a week later when I got it home, it just jumped up at me. It was like a different dog."

The rescue centre spokeswoman said the dog could have been provoked by Miss Stewart's two cats and claimed she had failed to tell the centre she had pets.

"She insisted on having this particular dog," the centre spokeswoman said. "We told her he was very nervous and petrified of men.

"We don't just get rid of dogs willy-nilly. We assess the dogs. There is always a risk with dogs and children."