A 3-year-old girl from the UK needed hospital treatment after a designer dog, a ‘cockapoo’ gave her a nasty bite. The youngster required surgery.
According to a report by Kent Online, the incident occurred outside a primary school on Mierscourt Road in Rainham on June 17 at around 3:30 PM. Rowen Skinley was walking his daughter, 3-year-old Bunnie Skinley, home from school at the time. Rowen told the outlet they encountered a woman walking her cockapoo on the road instead of the sidewalk. Per Dog Time, a cockapoo is a cross between a Poodle and Cocker Spaniel. The breed is reportedly one of the first ‘designer dogs’ and “known for their playful and sociable demeanor.”
However, Rowan told Kent Online the cockapoo attacked unprovoked. “Then, out of nowhere, the dog just lunged for my daughter and pulled her to the floor. The owner managed to pull the dog off, but when she did that, it ripped her skin open,” he reportedly said.
Bunnie’s father allegedly had to hold the skin on her arm together as witnesses ran over to help. Rowan explained, “People who saw what happened came over and said that my daughter hadn’t even put her hand out to the dog.”
The Dog Owner Reportedly Left Without Providing Any Details
Rowan told Kent Online that the dog owner left the scene without saying anything, nor did she leave any details. Emergency services rushed the youngster to Medway Maritime Hospital. She was reportedly cleaned up and sent to St Thomas’ Hospital in Westminster the following morning.
The outlet explains that doctors gave Bunnie X-rays to assess the damage. She has had plastic surgery and will require future visits to the hospital to see if more work is needed.
Bunnie’s father explained that she was doing well after the incident, although she was shaken up. “She’s doing well now. She’s just a bit shaken and keeps talking about how scared she is of the dog,” he said. Rowan also explained that his daughter has asthma and a lung condition, which makes her a ‘high-risk’ patient for sedation. Local police say that an investigation is underway.