Fury as police dog that mauled girl saved
THE mother of a six- year- old girl savaged by a police dog was furious yesterday when told it had been cleared to return to duty.
Barmaid Sarah Malone said: “If it had been any other dog it would have been put to sleep.”
Her daughter Phoebe was last night still undergoing tests in hospital after she suffered multiple bite wounds in the attack on Tuesday evening.
Phoebe was walking home after playing hide- and- seek when she was attacked by the German Shepherd.
Seconds earlier it had been let off its leash to pursue a suspected car thief fleeing on foot after a crash.
The dog was dragged off by its handler but Phoebe suffered up to 10 wounds to her legs.
Mrs Malone, 34, ran to the scene to find Phoebe covered in blood after being alerted by her nine- year- old son Leighton.
She said: “I just want to kill that dog myself... as a mum you always want to protect your children and I was devastated to see her in such a terrible state.”
The pregnant mother- of- three believes that the dog should have been withdrawn from duty at the very least.
She said: “There is no excuse for what happened. I thought these dogs were trained to go after criminals – not little girls playing in the street.”
“I fear she will be scarred for life and will be scared of showing her legs when she gets older.”
The attack happened after a stolen Fiat Punto had crashed near the family’s home in Newton Heath, Manchester, while being chased by a police patrol car.
The dog was called in after the driver ran off. He had not been caught last night.
Greater Manchester Police said that the incident had been referred to its standards branch but the dog had been assessed and deemed suitable for work.