Latest news with #RowenSkinley
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Woman, 50, is charged after cockapoo dog mauled three-year-old girl in attack that forced father to 'hold her skin together'
A woman has been charged after a three-year-old girl was horrifically mauled by a cockapoo outside a Kent primary school, leaving her with such severe injuries her father had to 'hold her skin together'. Bunnie was walking home with her father, Rowen Skinley, and two siblings on Tuesday when the designer crossbreed launched the attack outside Miers Court Primary School in Rainham, Kent last week on Tuesday. The cockapoo, a mix of Cocker Spaniel and Poodle, bit Bunnie without warning, tearing open her arm. She was rushed to a London hospital for emergency plastic surgery, and she has since been discharged. Officers from Kent Police made an arrest on Monday and now have confirmed that Tracie Inkpen, 50, was charged the same day with being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury. The dog was also seized. She has been bailed to appear before Medway Magistrates' Court at a later date. As previously reported, the owner of the small, sandy-coloured pooch left leaving no details, after pulling the dog off the toddler and tearing her skin in doing so, Mr Skinley said. The father explained: 'I was so shocked. All I had to stop the bleeding was my hands. I had to basically hold her skin together.' Thankfully, he continued: 'She's doing well now. She's just a bit shaken and keeps talking about how scared she is of the dog... 'It's really upsetting that the woman didn't stop because it makes you fear for the safety of other kids.' Cockapoos have often been touted as family-friendly bundles of cuteness - playful, warm, curly-haired teddy bears, who are easy to manage and train. But Mr Skinley had a rather different experience with the popular breed: '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.' Bystanders rushed over to help: 'People who saw what happened came over and said that my daughter hadn't even put her hand out to the dog.' Bunnie was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital in nearby Gillingham before being transferred to St Thomas' Hospital in Westminster, London, the next morning. There, she had several X-rays to ensure the puncture had not hit her bone before undergoing the reconstructive surgery. Mr Skinley explained: 'She also has a lung condition and really bad asthma so she had to be marked down as a high-risk category for sedation.' Anyone with information that could assist officers' inquiries, including CCTV or doorbell footage, should contact police on 01634 792209, quoting 46/102876/25.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Woman is charged after toddler's arm ripped open in dog attack outside primary school
A woman has been charged after a toddler's arm was ripped open by a dog which attacked her outside of a primary school. Bunnie, three, was walking home with her father and two siblings last Tuesday when the Cockapoo attacked her outside Miers Court Primary School in Rainham, Kent, at around 3.30pm. Her father Rowen Skinley told KentOnline he had to to hold the skin on her arm together with his hands before people nearby rushed to help. Bunnie was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital in nearby Gillingham before being transferred to St Thomas' Hospital in Westminster, London, the following morning. There, she had several X-rays to ensure the puncture had not hit her bone, before undergoing the reconstructive surgery. Mr Skinley explained: 'She also has a lung condition and really bad asthma so she had to be marked down as a high-risk category for sedation.' Police launched an investigation and have now announced they made an arrest yesterday in connection with the incident. Officers also seized a dog, believed to be a Cockapoo. Tracie Inkpen, 50, from Gillingham, was charged the same day with being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. She was later bailed and will appear before Medway Magistrates' Court at a later date. Mr Skinley last week said his daughter is 'doing well now', adding: 'She's just a bit shaken and keeps talking about how scared she is of the dog.' Speaking about the attack, he 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.' Bystanders rushed over to help: 'People who saw what happened came over and said that my daughter hadn't even put her hand out to the dog.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Girl, 3, abused online after dog attack
A man whose three-year-old daughter was attacked by a dog has criticised the abuse she has since received online. Rowen Skinley, from Rainham, said the attack by the cockapoo on his daughter, Bunnie, was "totally unprovoked" and that the bite marks indicate that her arm was "tucked in" at the time. Kent Police said it was investigating a report that a child was bitten by a dog in Silverspot Close at about 15:30 BST on Tuesday. But the girl, who needed reconstructive surgery to her arm, was later targeted by "vicious" abuse on social media, said her father. "She is a bigger girl and [there has been] some not-so-nice comments," said Mr Skinley. "It's horrible, she's a three-year-old girl." Speaking about the attack, he said: "Her arm was bleeding so badly that I had to hold it together." Bunnie was sent to St Thomas' Hospital in London for surgery, but the owner of the dog fled the scene and is yet to come forward. There have been 1,195 dog attacks reported to Kent Police last year, up 33% since 2018. Canine behaviourist Daniel Shaw said dogs of any size are a risk to humans, not just larger breeds. "Smaller dogs can have similar issues in terms of temperament, not coping well in certain situations, so you may see similar injuries but because they're smaller generally the damage is less severe," said Mr Shaw. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Girl, 2, in hospital after being attacked by dog Appeal after boy, 10, attacked by two dogs Kent Police
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Girl, 3, from Rainham abused online after dog attack
A man whose three-year-old daughter was attacked by a dog has criticised the abuse she has since received Skinley, from Rainham, said the attack by the cockapoo on his daughter, Bunnie, was "totally unprovoked" and that the bite marks indicate that her arm was "tucked in" at the Police said it was investigating a report that a child was bitten by a dog in Silverspot Close at about 15:30 BST on the girl, who needed reconstructive surgery to her arm, was later targeted by "vicious" abuse on social media, said her father. "She is a bigger girl and [there has been] some not-so-nice comments," said Mr Skinley."It's horrible, she's a three-year-old girl." Speaking about the attack, he said: "Her arm was bleeding so badly that I had to hold it together." Bunnie was sent to St Thomas' Hospital in London for surgery, but the owner of the dog fled the scene and is yet to come have been 1,195 dog attacks reported to Kent Police last year, up 33% since behaviourist Daniel Shaw said dogs of any size are a risk to humans, not just larger breeds."Smaller dogs can have similar issues in terms of temperament, not coping well in certain situations, so you may see similar injuries but because they're smaller generally the damage is less severe," said Mr Shaw.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Girl, three, has arm ripped open by cockapoo as her father is forced to 'hold her skin together' after attack outside primary school
A girl, three, has had her arm ripped open by a cockapoo, with her father forced to 'hold her skin together' after the attack outside a primary school. Bunnie was walking home with her father Rowen Skinley and two siblings in Rainham, Kent, on Tuesday when the designer dog attacked outside Miers Court Primary School. She had to be rushed to hospital in London for emergency plastic surgery after the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle crossbreed brutally mauled her unprovoked. The owner of the small, sandy-coloured pooch 'just disappeared', leaving no details, after pulling the dog off the toddler and tearing her skin in doing so, Mr Skinley said. The father explained: 'I was so shocked. All I had to stop the bleeding was my hands. I had to basically hold her skin together.' Thankfully, he continued: 'She's doing well now. She's just a bit shaken and keeps talking about how scared she is of the dog... '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. Cockapoos have often been touted as family-friendly bundles of cuteness - playful, warm, curly-haired teddy bears, who are easy to manage and train. But Mr Skinley had a rather different experience with the popular breed: '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.' Bystanders rushed over to help: 'People who saw what happened came over and said that my daughter hadn't even put her hand out to the dog.' Bunnie was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital in nearby Gillingham before being transferred to St Thomas' Hospital in Westminster, London, the next morning. There, she had several X-rays to ensure the puncture had not hit her bone, before undergoing the reconstructive surgery. Mr Skinley explained: 'She also has a lung condition and really bad asthma so she had to be marked down as a high-risk category for sedation.' The girl will have to return to hospital within a week for a check-up, to assess if she needs even more surgery. Anyone with information that could assist officers' inquiries, including CCTV or doorbell footage, should contact police on 01634 792209, quoting 46/102876/25. It comes after MailOnline revealed at the end of last year that at least 16 dangerous dogs are seized every day in the UK. Just under 6,000 dangerous dogs were seized by 27 forces from November 2023 until the same month the following year, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request found - meaning 114 dogs are taken every week. Of the forces which responded to the FOI, Greater Manchester had the highest figures, with 19 dogs seized a week. It took 1,000 in a year and put 337 of the animals to sleep. Second highest is the West Midlands force with 17 dogs, followed by Northumbria with nine. West Yorkshire seized eight a week, while Leicestershire said it seized six. Experts have now warned that banning dangerous dogs in order to keep the public safe has 'critical flaws' and the focus should be on making owners more responsible instead. A spokesperson at which obtained the data, said: 'The Dangerous Dogs Act has been in effect for over three decades and yet, hospital admissions due to dog bites continue to rise.' They added that instead of focusing on breed, the emphasis should be on 'addressing the root causes of dog aggression' instead.
