Bull terriers bite off child's toe

A boy aged three had a toe bitten off and needed 40 stitches to his face and body after being mauled by two Staffordshire bull terrier puppies, his family said today.

Connor Davies was only saved from death when the dogs were driven away by a neighbour armed with a crowbar who witnessed the attack, his father, Darren, said.

The unmuzzled puppies leapt on Connor and savagely attacked him as he played outside his grandmother’s house in New Denham, Bucks with his five-year-old sister Jordan.

The dogs ripped into his face and body, completely biting off one of his toes. Doctors have said Connor may never be able to run or do gymnastics at school.

The youngster, a pupil at Longmead Nursery School in West Drayton, north-west London, underwent 13 hours of surgery following last Friday’s attack, returning home only yesterday to be with his mother Shelley, 27.

Doctors were unable to reattach his severed toe.

Connor’s grandmother, Jackie Walker, 46, who lives in New Denham said the dogs clamped their jaws on to the child and refused to let go until threatened with the crowbar.

She said: ‘‘Connor didn’t stand a chance. The dogs were all over him and just wouldn’t let go. It was horrible.’’

Mr Davies, 32, a self-employed signwriter, said today: ‘‘These dogs should never have been let loose and should definitely have been muzzled.

‘‘The owner said he had destroyed the dogs immediately after the attack but we believe they are still very much alive.

‘‘It’s shocking what has happened to Connor and he’s very badly traumatised.

‘‘He saw a tiny Yorkshire Terrier yesterday and was so frightened and scared. His physical scars may eventually heal, but his emotional ones may not.’’

Mr Davies added: ‘‘I want to know what’s going to happen to these dogs.

"They’re highly dangerous and must be destroyed immediately. I want to know what the police are going to be doing about this.’’

The dogs are believed to belong to a local builder and Thames Valley Police have begun an investigation into the attack.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, magistrates can order dogs to be destroyed if owners do not keep them under strict control.

Ms Davies, of West Drayton, said: ‘‘It’s been a nightmare. Connor’s in great pain. We thought we had lost him.’’

Since last week’s attack Connor has received a letter and posters from Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who was contacted by a doctor at the Chelsea and Kensington Hospital in London where the child was treated.

The letter signed by the United boss read: ‘‘I’m sorry to hear you’re not feeling too well. Myself and all the players are thinking of you.’’