Mother calls for tighter dog laws

Leah Preston's injuries were horrific

The mother of a five-year-old girl who suffered horrific injuries after she was savaged by two dogs is planning to launch a campaign to tighten the law on dangerous dogs.

Diane Reynolds, from Wolverhampton, says there should be much tougher laws on dog ownership.

Her daughter, Leah Preston, came close to death after she was attacked by two bull mastiff cross-breeds while she played in the front garden of her home in the Low Hill area of the city.

She underwent five major operations at Birmingham Children's Hospital and spent a week in intensive care.

Target owners

The dogs, which belonged to a neighbour, were destroyed after the incident on 16 May.

Although Leah is now on the road to recovery her mother is still traumatised by the attack.

Diane Reynolds wants parents to "be aware"

She told the BBC's Midlands Today programme: "I do put a brave face on for Leah's benefit.

"But it hurts to think that she was so perfect and has had this taken away from her."

She said that a change had to be made in the law to prevent other children suffering the same as Leah.

"Something has to be done because Leah was so close to losing her life and I would not like to hear that any other child having to go through what she has gone through," she said.

Ms Reynolds believes the way to prevent attacks in the future is to target the owners.

She has urged parents who may be worried about potentially aggressive dogs to contact the police or the RSPCA.

"They need to get something done about it before something like that happens to their children," she said.

"They need to be very aware."