Toddler savaged in dog mauling

The 14-month-old boy, named locally as Jensen, is being treated in hospital, with his “devastated” mother Stephanie Dunk at his bedside.

His injuries include a fractured jaw and multiple lacerations following the brutal attack, which left Jensen needing three hours of surgery for wounds thought to be permanently disfiguring.

Detectives now believe the animal snapped and became violent as temperatures soared to 29 degrees on Saturday – the hottest day of the year so far.

The dog, a Staffordshire bull terrier type breed, has since been seized and may be destroyed. Police said no-one has been arrested.

The toddler was reportedly bitten on his cheek and has multiple injuries which also include a perforated ear drum and cuts on his back, head and legs.

Jensen was reportedly being looked after by Miss Dunk’s partner’s mother while she was at work, when he was ruthlessly 
set upon in the garden of the property in Thorpe Pyn Croft, Dalton.

Police are now investigating if the dog, alleged to have bitten others before, is a banned breed.

Jensen is being treated in Leeds General Infirmary and is “doing well”, according to police.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s shocking.”

“He’s on the mend but we really don’t know what’s happened to cause this.

“Talking to people on the street the dog has bitten two people before, but that’s only come out after this has happened.”

Detective Inspector Andy Parr said: “We’ve launched an investigation and the dog has been seized and is likely to be destroyed.

“We’re conducting inquiries into the type of dog to see if it’s a banned breed or has any kind of DNA from an illegal breed.

“The child is doing well in hospital and is being kept in for observations as there are some medical complications.”

Det Insp Parr added: “This incident looks likely to not be criminal, it’s more of a case of a dog snapping at a young child after getting frustrated during the heat.

“During the hot weather people must make sure dogs are properly supervised.

“Even when it appears the dog is looked after properly it only takes a moment of madness for something like this to happen.”

The incident is the latest of a number of attacks by dogs in Yorkshire.

In April a Leeds man admitted owning a dangerous dog that attacked a pregnant woman in her own home, resulting in her death.

Lee Horner, 33, pleaded guilty to owning the animal, called Dollar, that attacked his 27-year-old girlfriend Emma Bennett.

Ms Bennett was pregnant with her fifth child at the time.

Horner was later given a community service order.