Family wants attack dog put down

Ashley Farnworth, of Trelogan, near Prestatyn, had 30 stitches in his face after he was attacked by the dog, which had been adopted by a family friend.

His mother, Angelina Di Marco, said pending the outcome of a police investigation, she intended taking North Clwyd Animal Rescue to court.

The charity said it had made it clear the pet was nervous around strangers.

Miss Di Marco, 31, said: "I'm just waiting to hear if the police are going to follow it through. If not, I will take civil action against North Clwyd Animal Rescue to have the dog put down.

"I would not be able to live with myself if I did not fight to have that dog put down and it was put in another home and attacked another child."

"She's as soft as anything. I think she felt threatened."
Anne Owen, North Clwyd Animal Rescue

Ashley, whose stitches have now been removed, was wounded millimetres from his eye and had a cut mouth and chin, according to his dad Neil, who saw the attack in the kitchen of his Rhyl home.

Neil, 36, who insisted the attack was unprovoked, said: "The dog was on a lead and the children were about to take her for a walk. Ashley put his hand out to stroke her and she went for him. The dog should be put down."

Anne Owen, a trustee of the North Clwyd Animal Rescue, in Trelogan, said Bella had previously lived with a family with children.

She said: "We knew this dog was nervous with strangers but she not was vicious. We were very careful the people who adopted her knew this."

Mrs Owen said they took incidents such as this very seriously but she did not believe Bella, who is still at the centre, could be totally blamed.

She said: "Our animal behaviourist says they did not give the dog time to settle into a new home.

"That would have aggravated the nervous behaviour. She's as soft as anything. I think she felt threatened."

Mrs Owen said Bella could be re-homed only with experienced owners with no children. She would also have to wear a muzzle in public.

North Wales Police are investigating.

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