Family 'disgusted' at saving of dog which bit girl's face

The uncle of a girl who was bitten by a dog in Jersey said his family were "disgusted" by the Royal Court's decision to let the animal live.

Jersey's Appeal Court ruled the dog did not have to be put down, but must always be on a muzzle and lead in public.

Jose Carlos lives next door to the dog, an Alsatian-Husky cross.

His seven-year-old niece needed 40 stitches after being bitten in the face while visiting the family.

Mr Carlos said opening the door to her afterwards was "like a nightmare".

He said: "It looked horrendous, it was like something from a horror film. She had a hole in the middle of her forehead, and about three slashes on her right cheek."

Mr Carlos said he wished he had stopped the girl going outside to play.

At a magistrates' court hearing in May the dog's owners were told that the 17-month-old animal would be destroyed.

But owner Angela Melim appealed, arguing that the dog was a much-loved family pet which had no history of aggressive behaviour.

At the appeal hearing the defence argued that the dog should be kept under control but not destroyed.

Lawyers said it had been neutered since the event on Good Friday, had been doing well in training and would be re-homed in France.

(Published by BBC - July 5, 2012)