THE father of a girl who was mauled by a bull terrier has called for tougher sentences for those guilty of allowing dogs to be dangerously out of control.
In January, the man’s 6-year-old daughter was attacked while the family were on an outing in Pole Hill, Chingford, from their home in Buckhurst Hill.
Part of the girl’s ear was torn off in the attack and she has since had several reconstructive surgery operations to repair the damage.
On February 13 Gary Hindley, 56, of Woodberry Way in Chingford, was handed a suspended sentence and ordered to do community work for allowing his 16-month Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Buddy, to be dangerously out of control in a public place and causing injury.
The girl’s father is calling for widespread legal reforms to reduce the risk of similar attacks in the future.
Next Monday, he will meet with Mr Justice Henry Globe, who led recent research on the punishment for dangerous dog offences for the Sentencing Council, and will be describing the trauma caused by the attack and calling for tougher sentences.
He said: “Life for us will never be how it was.
“My daughter freaks out whenever she sees a dog and my wife has not been able to go to work and now suffers from a fear of open spaces.
“my daughter had a four hour operation last week.
“People need to take responsibility for their dogs. We need mandatory prison sentences in these kind of cases.”
Last week Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing called for better compensation for dog attack victims and for the government to investigate the possibility of compulsory insurance for dog owners.
The girl’s father said: “What we have found so far is that everyone is very supportive but no-one seems to have done anything.
“We also want pressure from the opposition on the issue and next week I will also be meeting with Ed Miliband and Luciana Berger, an MP who has led a dangerous dogs campaign.
“The local community has been very supportive and all I can do is keep on knocking on the door and fighting for change.”
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