Joshua Mann’s parents have been told that he will need further surgery before he can return home to Brockworth, near Gloucester. His mother, Lisa Mann, 23, told Sky News she was shocked when she saw her son in hospital.
“I thought he was going to die. He looked in so much pain.” She said. “”All I wanted to do was pick him up and hold him, but I wasn’t allowed. Joshua was stroking the sheep dog, Rossie, when she jumped up and latched onto his face. Rossie pulled him to the ground and wouldn’t release him. His dad and others ran over and started punching the dog to get him to let go. You just need to be more aware, if a dog is not brought up around children, if they’re not used to them, they can just go,” Miss Mann said. “People naturally think its pitbulls, rottweilers and the other dangerous breeds, but this was a collie. It’s not usual that a collie would do this, but he wasn’t brought up with children and snapped.”
An RSPCA spokeswoman stressed that dangerous dogs “are not defined by breed”.
Numerous reports on the The Injury Lawyers blog are about dog bite related accidents. When we think of dog attacks, it’s true that we think of the dangerous breeds of dogs and their owners who have them illegally in the UK. However this is not the issue this time. I’m sure if Joshua’s grandmother would have had any idea what her collie was capable of, then she wouldn’t have let her grandson go near her.
This attack is likely to affect Joshua for the rest of his life. For more information on dog attacks and what to do if you or someone you know has been injured in one, The Injury Lawyers blog should be able to give you the reassurance and advice you need.