Toddler has emergency surgery after dog attack

The boy, named locally as Keiron Guess, was found in a neighbour’s back garden “limp” and with “blood all over his face” after his grandfather heard him screaming and found that a Staffordshire bull terrier was attacking him.

Police confirmed that an officer has already been bitten by a dog at the same address within the last year, but said no action had been taken as the dog had “been appropriately assessed at the time and was found not to be a dangerous dog breed”. They were unable to confirm whether it was the same dog involved in both attacks.

Keiron was taken to Frenchay Hospital, in Bristol, after his grandfather managed to free him from the dog’s grip, injuring his own arm in the process.

He underwent emergency surgery and was put into an induced coma. As well the injuries to his ear and part of his nose, the child had suffered serious damage to one of his eyes.

This morning, Wiltshire police said that Keiron remained in a critical but stable condition. The boy’s parents, named locally as Stacey and Anthony, remain at his bedside.

Shock

They confirmed that no-one would be arrested, and that the dog’s owner was co-operating fully with officers. It is understood that police options are limited as the attack took place on private property, whereas the dangerous dogs act refers to animals being kept under control in a public place.

The act covers four types of dogs: pitbull terriors, Japanese tosas, dogo Argentinos, and fila Brasileiro, or crossbreeds of such dogs.

It is understood that the dog has since been put down. It was one of a pair who had lived at the same house, although only one dog was involved. Its owner, reportedly named as Garfield King, told The Sun: “I was watching the jubilee on the television. I heard squeaking and went outside.

“The dog looked like he was playing with something. I thought it was a dolly at first. Then I saw it was a baby. I’m still in shock.”

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, told the BBC: “My wife was on the computer and she heard this scream, ‘Where is he? Where is he?’

“The grandfather carried him out and he was just limp. There was blood all over his face.”

Stable condition

Inquiries are continuing, and investigating officers have appealed for anyone with information to contact the police.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police in Swindon are investigating a dog attack where a two-year-old boy was left with serious facial injuries.

“At approximately 6pm on Sunday 3 June, the two-year-old boy was found injured in a neighbour’s garden, after being attacked by a dog.

“The boy was taken to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol with serious facial injuries and is in a stable condition. His parents and family are with him.

“A 49-year-old man was also injured and received treatment at hospital for an injury to his arm which is not serious.”