Girl, 8, requires 175 stitches in her face after being mauled in horrific dog attack

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:31 PM on 20th August 2010

An eight-year-old girl needed 175 stitches in her face and head after she was mauled by a dog having been told by its owners it was safe for her to stroke.

Sky Barker was playing in Rastrick, West Yorkshire, last Thursday evening when she asked the owner of a fearsome Japanese Akita if she could pet the animal.

However horror struck when the dog - which was tied to a wall - leapt forward and grabbed her head in its mouth as she approached.

Sky Barker, 8, needed 175 stitches in her face and head after being mauled by a Japanese Akita whose owners told her it was safe to stroke

Incredibly, a week after the attack the animal-loving youngster has said she doesn't want the vicious animal put down.

Her father Brian Hackett, 33, told how Sky survived the horrific attack as she was able to roll out of the reach of the tethered dog and the emergency services were called.

The eight-year-old was rushed to hospital for a four-hour operation and received 60 stitches to the back of her head, 85 in her face and 30 inside her cheek, which could leave her scared for life.

Mr Hackett was on his way home from his work as a joiner when he received a call from Sky's mother Amber Barker, 30, who he is separated from, telling him their daughter was in hospital.

He said: 'She is lucky to be alive. She was playing in a communal area opposite where she lives with her mum when it happened.

'Apparently the owners had only had the dog a couple of days so why would you let it be around children like that when you don't know if you can trust it?

'The first thing I knew about it was when her mum called me and told me what had happened, she heard Sky screaming and came running out. I rushed to the hospital and I was just horrified for her.

'I am so annoyed by what has happened, and not just because of Sky but I want to make sure that this dog doesn't attack anyone else now because next time they might not survive.'

Doctors have warned that it could be 12 to 18 months before Sky regains feeling and movement in her face, while she has only just managed to crack half a smile.

Mr Hackett , who lives with wife Karen, 38, stepchildren Jordan, 17, and Phoebe, 13, and Sky's big brother Josh, 11, in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, added: 'We are trying to make her use the muscles in her face by making her smile as much as possible, and she is just managing to smile on one side of her face now.

'Sky is going to have to go through a lot of pain in the future because of this attack, and I just don't want something like this to happen to someone else.

'Since the attack I have seen the dog out on a lead with the owners and I want to make people aware that it is still in the area.'

Sky, who has been described by her father as "bubbly", has a soft spot for animals and, touchingly, Mr Hackett revealed that even after she was savaged by the large pet she didn't want it to be put to sleep.

He said: 'Sky would pick up and care for absolutely any animal, from a dog down to a spider or an ant and look after it - that is just her way.

'Since the attack she has been a bit wary of other dogs but she is alright with our three dogs because she knows she can trust them.

'It says everything about her that even after the attack she said she didn't even want the Akita put down. She said she wants it to go away and doesn't ever want to see it again but she doesn't want it to die.'

The Japanese Akita is considered to be one of the most dangerous dogs in Britain, with numerous reported attacks which have resulted in the victim needing stitches and surgery.

Akitas are not listed as dangerous dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act but they are classed as a fighting breed.

Because the dog is not listed under the Act, the police say that they cannot force its owners to have it destroyed.

A spokesman said: 'Because of the classification of this particular type of dog, we cannot seize the animal and have it put down. Instead, all we we can do is strongly encourage to the owners that the dog is put down.'

The spokesman said that although there was nothing they could do, the owners have told police that they plan to have the dog destroyed in the coming days.

From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1304780/Vicious-dog-attack-Eight-year-old-girl-needs-175-stitches-mauled-horrific-attack.html