BUCKHURST HILL: Dad demands law reform after dog attack on daughter (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

BUCKHURST HILL: Dad demands law reform after dog attack on daughter

7:40am Friday 10th February 2012 in Epping Forest News By Tom Porter

A FATHER is determined to force a change in the law after a horrific attack on his six-year-old daughter by a Staffordshire bull terrier.

The family, from Buckhurst Hill, was on an outing to nearby Pole Hill in Chingford on January 21 when the dog savaged the little girl.

It tore off part of her ear and left her needing reconstructive surgery to repair injuries to her face, neck and shoulder.

A court ordered the family’s identity to be protected as the dog’s owner - Gary Hindley, 56, of Woodberry Way in Chingford - pleaded guilty to allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and causing injury.

The father said: “She screams and screams and screams when we are changing her bandages in the morning. She’ll have to back to the hospital in a couple of weeks for major reconstructive surgery.

“We have not really been out since it happened. Going to parks and beaches, where there are dogs around, may not be something we can do again.

“My wife is taking it quite hard and finding it difficult to come to terms with what has happened. My son is not how he was. He was a silent witness and had to stand there watching his mother and sister be attacked.

“My daughter can now only do half a day at school and will have to take more time off for further operations.”

The family has started a petition since the attack at the end of January calling for Staffordshire Bull Terriers to be muzzled in public, and controlled by the Dangerous Dogs Act They also want all dogs to be microchipped with their owner’s details.

“I have spoken to Boris Johnson, Iain Duncan Smith, and am going to be meeting with Ed Milliband,” he said.

“People have been completely supportive, dog owners as much as anyone.”

“Taking my daughter to hospital and pushing this message out has taken up a lot of time but it is so important that it is done.”

The petition can be found at www.ipetitions.com/petition/dog-safe