Police powerless after Japanese fighting dog mauls girl, 8

Sky Barker was playing out last Thursday evening when she asked the owner of a Japanese Akita if she could pet the animal.

But the dog, which was tied to a wall, leapt forward and grabbed her head in its mouth as she approached it..

Her father Brian Hackett said Sky survived because she was able to roll beyond the reach of the tethered animal before the emergency services were called.

She was rushed to hospital for a four-hour operation and received 60 stitches to the back of her head, 85 to her face and 30 inside her cheek, which could scar her for life.

Mr Hackett, 33, said: "She is lucky to be alive. She was playing in a communal area opposite where she lives with her mum when it happened. Apparently the owners had only had the dog a couple of days so why would you let it be around children like that when you don't know if you can trust it?

"The first thing I knew about it was when her mum called me and told me what had happened, she heard Sky screaming and came running out. I rushed to the hospital and I was just horrified for her.

"I am so annoyed by what has happened, and not just because of Sky but I want to make sure that this dog doesn't attack anyone else now because next time they might not survive."

Doctors have warned that it could be 12 to 18 months before Sky regains feeling and movement in her face, while she has only just managed to crack half a smile.

Mr Hackett said: "We are trying to make her use the muscles in her face by making her smile as much as

possible, and she is just managing to smile on one side of her face now.

"Sky is going to have to go through a lot of pain in the future because of this attack, and I just don't want something like this to happen to someone else.

"Since the attack I have seen the dog out on a lead with the owners and I want to make people aware that it is still in the area."

Sky, who her father describes as "bubbly", has a soft spot for animals and does not want want the dog to be put to sleep.

The Japanese Akita is considered to be one of the most dangerous dogs in Britain, with numerous reported attacks which have resulted in the victim needing stitches and surgery.

Akitas are not listed as dangerous dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act but they are classed as a fighting breed.

Because the dog is not listed under the Act, the police say that they cannot force its owners to have it destroyed.

A spokesman said: "Because of the classification of this particular type of dog, we cannot seize the animal and have it put down. Instead, all we we can do is strongly encourage to the owners that the dog is put down."

The spokesman said that although there was nothing they could do, the owners have told police that they plan to have the dog destroyed in the coming days.