Girl, 3, 'ripped open' by Cockapoo outside primary school
WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGES: Rowen Skinley was walking his children home when his three-year-old daughter Bunnie was randomly set upon by a Cockapoo outside a primary school in Rainham, Kent
A young girl has been left traumatised after she was viciously attacked by a dog outside a primary school, with the animal "ripping open" her skin.
Rowen Skinley was walking his three children home when a Cockapoo suddenly lunged for his daughter Bunnie in Rainham, Kent earlier this week. The attack happened near Miers Court Primary School on Tuesday and left the young girl with severe skin injuries.
While the dog and its owner quickly made off from the scene, members of the public rushed to help Rowen and Bunnie. The three-year-old was taken to hospital where she underwent plastic surgery.
According to dad Rowen, who says he had to "hold the skin on [Bunnie's] arm together" while she awaited treatment, the dog was a small, sandy-coloured Cockapoo. Kent Police confirmed officers are investigating.
Rowen said: "It happened parallel to the school on the main road. I was just walking home after the school run. The path is quite narrow, and a woman was walking her dog on the actual road itself.
"Then, out of nowhere, the dog just lunged for my daughter and pulled her to the floor. The owner managed to pull the dog off, but when she did that, it ripped her skin open. I was so shocked. All I had to stop the bleeding was my hands. I had to basically hold her skin together."
Witnesses rushed over to help Rowen - but the owner quickly left the scene, he claims. Rowen said: "People who saw what happened came over and said that my daughter hadn't even put her hand out to the dog. The woman just disappeared. She didn't leave any details or anything."
Bunnie was rushed to Medway Maritime Hospital and then transferred to St Thomas' in Westminster the next morning. There, she had several X-rays to ensure the puncture hadn't hit her bone, before undergoing plastic surgery.
According to her dad, Bunnie has been left shaken following the incident. She will need to return to hospital within a week for a check-up, and to assess whether she will need further work done. Rowen said: "She's doing well now. She's just a bit shaken and keeps talking about how scared she is of the dog.
"She also has a lung condition and really bad asthma so she had to be marked down as a high-risk category for sedation. It's really upsetting that the woman didn't stop because it makes you fear for the safety of other kids."
A Kent Police spokesperson confirmed an investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist officers' inquiries, including CCTV or doorbell footage, should contact police on 01634 792209, quoting 46/102876/25.
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