The family of a little girl who was badly injured in a dog attack claims she has been traumatized and suffers from nightmares, ITV.com reported.
In July, Peyton was pushed down, scratched, and bit by a 10-month-old Akita while playing at a friend’s house.
Following the incident, the seven-year-old suffered more than a dozen facial injuries and required surgery.
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It comes after a year in which a record number of humans have been murdered in dog attacks. So far, nine individuals have died in the UK, more than double the number who died last year.
Peyton’s mother, Bronte Waddington, told the publication that her daughter was left with physical and emotional scars as a result of the assault in Keighley, West Yorkshire.
Bronte recalled the terrifying occurrence, saying, “I was driving back from work in pieces.” You may assume it’s a little cut with no teeth involved, but her face had been severely damaged.
“She was in so much pain, it was terrible.” She’s had 13 lacerations and skin removed, and now she’s coping with the emotional aftermath.
” She has nightmares while sleeping, and she screamed and got up.”And it happens again and again with her. ”
The family is now facing a two-year wait for NHS therapy and is frantically attempting to gather funds for her private treatment.
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“Every day she has breakdowns over basic things,” Bronte and her companion, Chloe Woodward, noted. She’s experiencing panic attacks and is suffering from acute anxiety, which is terrible for her.
Dog assaults have skyrocketed in recent years. There were 8,819 hospital admissions in England owing to a dog bite or strike in the year to April 2022, compared to 5,832 hospital admissions in the year to April 2010.
Four of this year’s nine deaths have been related to American Bully XLs, huge, powerful dogs that may weigh up to 60 kg.
It’s spurred demands for the breed to be outlawed, but Bully Trader Robyn thinks the owners are to blame.
“She says during a talk to a media person. Although they are quite huge and mighty, they have a really sweet temperament. I trust my dogs more than I would trust certain human beings with my child. They would never hurt her. ”
There is speculation that the surge in dog attacks is related to the heightened demand for dogs during lockdown when the price of puppies skyrocketed.
However, with scant data on dogs involved in attacks, drawing conclusions is challenging.
“It’s a responsibility for all of us to know our dogs, to know what they want from us and what they can do in this condition.” This isn’t a dog problem; it’s a human one. ”
The RSPCA, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and the Dogs Trust are likewise opposed to adding breeds to the restricted list. They are now reiterating their efforts for the government to change the present laws, which they describe as a “flawed and failed strategy.”
The organization wants to see an end to breed-specific legislation, which they believe unfairly assesses dogs based on their looks.
“Aggressive conduct is far more complicated,” said Dr Sam Gaines, Head of Companion Animals at the RSPCA. It revolves around heredity and life experiences. Therefore, extending the breed ban would not improve public safety but would harm dog welfare and owners.
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“What we want to see is a true focus on the legislation that allows us to act at an early stage, is preventative in nature, but also linked with some extremely serious punishments to deter and punish those who knowingly employ dogs to cause injury.”
Those are sentiments shared by Peyton’s parents and Robyn.
“We think individuals should have to go through training to ensure they can look after dogs, so these assaults stop happening,” Bronte told ITV News. Owners must have greater ownership to demonstrate their ability to care for pets. ”
“In general, I want greater limits on who may legally keep their own dogs,” Robyn stated. “I believe dogs are under-protected in the United Kingdom.” All dogs deserve to be in good hands, in loving homes, and not be mistreated. ”
The government has previously rejected requests for reform, but it has now created a working committee to assist in reducing the number of attacks.
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“We have just started research into how we can stop dog attacks in our country.” We have now formed the Responsible Dog Ownership Working Group, which brings together police, local governments, and animal welfare organizations to examine how we can go even further in reducing the number of fatal assaults that occur each year.