In response to readers' letters in the Gazette over the last few weeks concerning dogs attacking dogs [Toughen up the danger dog law, Letters, February 11], I'd like to bring it to people's attention that my 12-year-old daughter was bitten by a dog and I have been unable to get any form of justice for her, not even an explaination as to why the owner was not prosecuted.
My daughters' story is as follows; she was visiting her father (at his caravan site) in Northampton during the summer holidays.
My daughter was passing by a caravan and saw the dog, a black Alsatian.
She spoke to the woman and asked if it was OK to stroke the dog, and was told it was fine.
I have always drummed it into my children never to approach a dog without the owner's permission.
As she stepped forward, the woman took hold of the dog by the collar and then advised my daughter to step forward.
She then took hold of my daughter's hand to lead her to the dog.
My daughter didn't quite understand why she did this, and had no fear of the dog as we have a large dog at home.
As the woman put my daughter's hand towards the dog, it lunged forwards, biting my daughter on the thigh.
The woman apologised, and my daughter went to tell her father what had happened.
They both went back to the woman, who again apologised and said the dog only had a few months left - my ex-husband thought she meant the dog only had a few months to live.
My ex-husband reported the incident to the police, who came out to take a statement and photographs of the wound.
My daughter then received a letter from the police just three days later, stating the same officer who interviewed my daughter had also interviewed the woman in charge of the dog, and the woman gave the exact details that my daughter had given.
Yet the letter claimed the case had gone to the Crown Prosecution Service, which said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.
If the owner admitted the dog had bitten my daughter, and she has the torn trousers and a wound to prove it, how much more evidence do they need?
My ex-husband then got in touch with the police station to question the outcome, and the only additional information he was given was that the woman only had a few months left with the dog as she was training it to become a police dog.
Does that make it acceptable for the dog to bite a child?
My daughter did everything right and she asked permission to stroke the dog.
Is it fair that the woman gets off scot free just because the dog was being trained?
Is my daughter in any way to blame when she was physically led by the hand?
I have tried to contact the officer in charge and have been told she would return my call, but she has failed to do so.
My daughter is scarred for life, she gets teased at school during PE lessons because the scar is so prominent and she no longer goes swimming as people stare.
It has made her very self-concious.
Why should this be swept under the carpet?
I would certainly welcome any advice in this situation as how to proceed, as I already feel I will be fighting a losing battle.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
