Toddler Brutally Mauled By Family Terrier
4:58pm Wednesday October 20, 2010
Steph Oliver
A toddler has been given more than 50 stitches to her face after being savagely mauled by the family dog.
Lilly Llewellyn's injuries after the attack
Sixteen-month-old Lilly Llewellyn nearly lost her eye after being bitten in the face by normally tame Cairn terrier Smokey after accidentally standing on his tail while she was playing.
We don't know if the dog had a bad day or was unwell. It is very traumatic.
<cite> Lilly's dad Lyn Llewellyn
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The Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed a crew was flagged down by Lilly's parents and that the toddler was taken to hospital for further treatment. Lilly is now recovering from a painful operation to repair her scarred face and the eight-year-old terrier owned by Lilly's grandparents has been put down.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lilly's dad Lyn Llewellyn said the attack came from nowhere: "We would never have expected it from Smokey. We don't know if the dog had a bad day or was unwell. It is very traumatic. "But once an animal has done that, you can't take the chance again. It's been awful."
Clarissa Baldwin, from The Dogs Trust, said: "A dog's behaviour and relationships within families, and particularly with children, are very heavily influenced by the way in which the dog is reared and trained. "The dog's breed is a minor factor and this attack should not reflect on the breed as a whole." But she added: "We advise pet-owning parents to never leave dogs alone with children."
