Youngster Rushed For Emergency Surgery Following Shocking Incident

A two-year-old boy in Swindon has had surgery after being left with serious injuries following a devastating dog attack involving a Staffordshire bull terrier in a neighbour’s back garden.

The youngster, named locally as Keiron Guess, suffered significant injuries to his ears and nose in the incident on Sunday (June 3rd), while his grandfather Shaun Leonard has since told The Sun that his left eye was also hanging out.

Following the attack, the boy underwent emergency surgery in Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital and is now in a stable condition.

The dog involved has since been put down, while no one has been arrested by Wiltshire Police in relation to the incident. The owners of the dog involved are also co-operating fully with the investigation.

Irwin Mitchell’s animal bites team acts for a number of victims and the families of those left seriously injured as a result of dog attacks, helping them to gain justice and answers over the physical and psychological trauma caused by such incidents.

David Urpeth, a Partner who specialises in such dog bite claims, said: “This truly awful incident demonstrates just how serious dog attacks can be, often leaving victims with emotional and physical scars from which they never fully recover.

“Dangerous dogs have a huge impact on simply too many lives and this attack shows why it is a matter of urgency that the government reviews and assesses legislation which is in place to safeguard against such incidents.

“New proposals such as compulsory microchipping of all puppies and legislation for prosecution in relation to attacks on private property have been put forward, but this kind of case also shows what a huge role that compulsory insurance could also play.

“We see a huge number of instances when dog owners whose pets are involved in attacks are not insured, which means they are unable to pay the costs needed to ensure victims can access vital rehabilitation and care which is often needed.

“People of all ages are at risk of dog attacks and it is vital that, while the issue is on the government’s agendas, that comprehensive measures are put in place to protect people from any possible harm.”