A mum has opened up about a “freak accident” in which her young daughter was mauled by the family’s pet dog.
Mia’s mum Rebecca Fisher spoke to our sister title the Mirror about her daughter’s ordeal, describing it as a “freak accident” due to two-year-old Pocket Bully Bane being unwell.
She revealed that Mia has now had two reconstructive operations since being bitten on January 31, with more surgery since needed to reopen her face and drain an infected abscess.
Rebecca said: “It was one of the most traumatic experiences I’ve ever been through, seeing my daughter covered in blood because of a freak accident. Our dog was the most loving but was unfortunately unwell.” She explained how she had briefly left the room “for a minute” to use the bathroom when he lashed out.
She added: “He did what he always does with my children and laid on my daughter. But because he’s a heavy dog he was squashing her, so as she’s gone to shove him down, she’s caught his belly – which was painful to touch for him – and he’s just turned around and snapped at her, catching her in multiple places.
“She has a cut on her hip, and the right side of her face has multiple wounds from his paws catching her face, as well as his tooth going deep into her cheek.” Recalling how their ordeal began, she told how Mia had shouted up at her as she was in the bathroom. “I said I’ll be one minute, then a few seconds later I heard Mia screaming. It was the worse thing ever. My other daughter came downstairs to pass me something to stop the bleeding.
“It has affected my 10-year-old more than it has Mia. She’s struggling to sleep and can’t even look at Mia’s face as it’s really scared her.” Mia had emergency surgery the following day to fix her cheek. “She has a long road to recovery, but it hasn’t dimmed her sparkle and she still has a massive love for dogs,” her mum said. Their dog is now being held in police kennels.
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Mia was one of three children attacked by dogs in the space of 48 hours in the same region, according to South Yorkshire Police. The force warned families that youngsters were more likely to be bitten at home by their own pet than anywhere else, with those under seven most vulnerable.
Officers revealed a 16-year-old girl required reconstructive surgery after being mauled by a Cane Corso at a house in Rossington on January 29. A shocking image showed a large chunk of skin hanging off her arm, and the dog was destroyed at the scene by firearms officers, after the owner gave permission.
Two days later, a seven-year-old boy was left with puncture wounds from a Pit Bull near Doncaster, just five hours after Mia, from Sheffield, sustained bite injuries from Bane the Pocket Bully, with the two said to have “adored each other”.
South Yorkshire Police has issued regular warnings about dangerous dogs, disclosing that officers responded to three separate incidents involving dogs dangerously out of control in just a 13 minute period last December. This week, it advised that the “risk continues”, releasing images of the aftermath of the three attacks, tagged with a “warning” due to their graphic nature.
It said: “We share these images to make people realise it can happen to you. Your dog can attack your child, it’s a fact; and owners must do more.”
Chief Inspector Emma Cheney, who leads the force’s work into dangerous dogs, explained that it carried out 347 dangerous dog investigations involving children under 15 in 2024.
She said: “Last week on Wednesday, January 29, we were called by Yorkshire Ambulance Service who were on scene at a property in Rossington following a Cane Corso attacking a 16-year-old girl. The girl suffered serious injuries to her arm and was taken to hospital by ambulance, where reconstruction surgery was required. Due to the dog’s behaviour and the risk it posed, the dog was destroyed at the scene by firearms officers, with permission from the owner.
“On Friday, January 31 at 1.17pm we responded to reports of a ‘Pocket Bully’ attacking a …girl in Sheffield. The girl suffered facial puncture wounds and was taken to hospital. The dog was seized and remains in our kennels. A short time later at 6.31pm we responded to reports of a pit bull mauling a seven-year-old boy in Thorne. The boy suffered puncture wounds and was taken to hospital. The dog was seized and remains in our kennels.
“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.”
The force has issued guidelines that families should follow, which include avoiding leaving children and dogs unattended and ensuring dogs can be placed somewhere safe and comfortable when visitors are present. It advised changes that may be required as young children become older and more mobile, such as installing stair gates to separate them from dogs.
Since a new law banning unregistered XL Bully dogs was enforced, police have seized over 4,500 suspected illegal dogs.
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