One mum was forced to fight off a crazed XL bully dog to prevent it from mauling her little four-year-old girl.
Amy Hobson, 32, had to ‘punch’ and ‘kick’ to stop the dog from savaging her terrified daughter’s face.
The mum from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, appeared on Good Morning Britain earlier this year (14 June) to recount the frightening ordeal.
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Amy and her daughter, Luna-Ann Forsyth, joined hosts Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid on the ITV show detailing how she survived the ‘horrific attack’ which left her face scarred.
She said: “I was out shopping with the owner of the dog on April 6. And then we came back from shopping.
“I helped the owner get the shopping in the house. The dog was upstairs. He came down, I think just to see who was in his house.”
Amy then said that she 'fussed' over the 80lb American Bulldog while Luna-Ann 'put her arms out to stroke him' like she usually would.
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However, the mum said disaster struck as the dog pushed her daughter to the floor and 'just went for her face'.
“Luckily I did get the dog. I punched him. I kicked him. I grabbed and twisted his ears. Thankfully he did let go,” she added.
Amy said that the attack lasted for a 'couple of seconds' and that injuries were isolated to Luna-Ann’s face.
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The four-year-old was taken to hospital where she was given 40 stitches and plastic surgery.
At the time, police confirmed an investigation had been launched and the dog was seized and destroyed.
A one-minute clip of the interview was posted to the GMB X account, which allowed users to have their say.
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One X user wrote: “I think most dogs should have muzzles on them when in the company of children or out at the park."
Another said: “All dogs regardless of size and breed can attack. It’s down to ownership and training, but, they can still turn.”
A third wrote: “Brave little girl. I was bitten aged 12 by a Doberman-Labrador cross. It jumped for my face and I instinctively put hand in the way. I was scared of dogs for many years.”
However, many have been quick to call out the 'insensitive' interview.
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One viewer said: “Oh my goodness reliving this nightmare in front of this little treasure! What were you thinking??
“Mum said she was having nightmares! And why oh why not a lovely present behind the sofa to give her? Unbelievable, absolutely no thought went into this interview.”
Following recent attacks by XL bully dogs in the UK, Home Secretary Suella Braverman issued a warning on social media: “This is appalling. The American XL Bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children.
"We can’t go on like this. I have commissioned urgent advice on banning them."
Not long after, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed XL bully dogs are set to be banned by the government, saying the breed posed a 'danger to our communities'.
Jess Battison