Horror dog attack injuries leaves teenage girl with skin peeled off her arm and needing surgery

This image shows the horrifying injury of a teenage girl with a chunk of flesh torn from her arm in one of three separate dogs attacks in one county just hours apart. Horrifying pictures were released of her arm, which she needed reconstructive surgery on after she was mauled by a Cane Corso in South Yorkshire last week. Just hours later, officers were called to two further attacks on children. In an unusual move, graphic pictures of the victims' injuries were shared by police in a desperate bid to hammer home the dangers. One senior police officer said people needed to realise "it can happen to your child", adding that you are "more likely to be bitten within a home by a familiar dog than anywhere else".

The first attack left a teenage girl needing reconstructive surgery after she was mauled at a house in Rossington near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, on Wednesday last week. Police said they were called by Yorkshire Ambulance Service after the dog, a Cane Corso, attacked the 16-year-old. She was rushed to hospital for surgery to her arm while the dog was destroyed at the scene by firearms officers, with the owner's permission. The second attack followed two days later when a six-year-old girl in Sheffield was savaged by a Pocket Bully breed dog on Friday afternoon.

The girl needed treatment in hospital for bites to her face. The dog was subsequently seized and pounded. Around five hours later, officers were called again to reports of a pitbull attacked a seven-year-old boy in Thorne, near Doncaster. The youngster also needed hospital treatment for puncture wounds, while the dog in question was seized and remains in kennels. Chief Inspector Emma Cheney, from South Yorkshire Police's dangerous dogs team, said: “In 2024 we launched 347 investigations into dangerous dogs involving children under 15. You are more likely to be bitten within a home by a familiar dog than anywhere else, and children under the age of seven are more likely to be attacked as they are unable to understand a dog’s display of warning signs.

“The demand dangerous dogs continue to place on our force is unprecedented and within one 48-hour period we have sadly seen children suffer the painful consequences of dog attacks. We are committed to protecting the public and our work with the NHS, organisations and charities continues to prevent attacks and safeguard those in proximity to dogs, but owners must step up, parents must step up. “Simple changes to your dog’s routine, or conversations with your children about respecting your dog’s space can be the difference between life and death.” Horrifying data from the Office of National Statistics released in October revealed there had been seven deaths from dog attacks since January last year. There were 19 in 2023 and six the year before.