Girl, 5, traumatised after neighbour’s dog ‘tore chunk out of her cheek’ in savage mauling
A YOUNG girl has been left traumatised after her neighbour’s dog tore a chunk out of her cheek in a savage mauling.
Little Elsie, five, had been playing with friends outside her home in South London when she was brutally attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier.
The young girl was forced to endure three surgies – with many more to come – after the devil dog chomped on her face at 5pm on September 25.
She had been playing with her sister Amelia, nine, when the hound came bounding over with no muzzle or lead.
The pair ran away and climbed a wall to safety – but little Elsie fell and the mutt bit her on the face.
Elsie’s mum, Kirsty, 29, had been watching the girls from inside when the horror attack occured.
She told MyLondon how her darling girl is now traumatised for life.
She said: “She doesn’t want to go out, particularly on public transport because she doesn’t want people to stare at her.
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“She hasn’t been back to school since because she doesn’t want her friends to see her like this.”
The savage attack only stopped when Kirsty bravely ran to her daughter’s rescue.
She said: “There was blood everywhere and a chunk of her face was wide open.
“A chunk of her cheek was hanging off and you could see inside her nose through the bridge of her nose.
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“In the ambulance, she was trying to fall asleep but the paramedics were talking to her to try to keep her conscious.
“She turned to me at one point and said ‘Mummy it’s ok but I’ve got to go, I’ve got to close my eyes now.'”
Little Elsie was rushed to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery – and doctors say she will need medical attention throughout her life.
Cops have now seized the dog and another belonging to the neighbour.
Police say a 56-year-old woman was interviewed under caution last Tuesday but no arrests have been made.
Croydon Council is currently trying to move Elsie and her family to another home – but in the meantime, they are reminded of the horror events every day.
Kirsty said: “It’s very hard coming in and out of our home, seeing where they used to play.
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“Every time I open the door it’s right there. I can’t look at the place where it happened, I can’t put the bins out. The kids find it hard to come in and out, I have to carry Elsie and her older sister in every time.
“It’s been catastrophic for our whole family. My partner, my kids, everyone is in counselling. We’re all just traumatised.”