MOTHER FORGIVES OVER DOG ATTACK ON BRAVE LITTLE KIRA, 2
7:00am Saturday 17th May 2008
Comments (14)THE MOTHER of a toddler savaged by a dog says she is glad the man in charge of the dog was not sent to prison.
Sam Hallows, speaking to the Echo following the sentencing of Stephen Paul Hodges at Dorchester Crown Court, said Kira, two, has made a good recovery from the attack.
However, Sam has been left so traumatised by the incident that she still takes sleeping pills.
Hodges was fined £750 and ordered to pay £500 costs.
She said: "I didn't want Hodges to go to prison because it wasn't his dog and he hadn't seen it in a long time. I just wanted him to accept responsibility, which he did in the end. The dog got put down. At the end of the day if it wasn't put down it could have happened to someone else's child and it could have been a lot worse than what happened to Kira."
Kira has made a good recovery physically and mentally is "unfazed" by what happened to her, added Sam. "She has got to go back in four months so we can discuss what to do.
"We are not happy with one of her scars. I am hopeful she will be back to normal.
"She never had nightmares. She hasn't been fazed by it at all. She's fine. The doctors say it's because of her age. That's the reason she has bounced back so quickly. She did have to see a therapist but they only saw her twice and said she's absolutely fine and not to worry about it. I asked if she would stop talking and they said no.
"She is so bouncy and extremely friendly they don't see her having a problem," added Sam.
The plucky youngster has no fear of dogs and happily plays with her grandfather's pet greyhound, she added. "Her grandad has got a big dog - a greyhound - and she's absolutely fine. I'm still a bit wary of that type of dog - the breed that bit her - but in general, no. I was at first a bit.
"I've been on sleeping tablets. Obviously I don't take them every night just whenever I have a bad night. At the end of the day I can't let it affect me because if it affects me it will affect her."
Sam added that she now has mixed feelings about whether Staffordshire bull terriers should be banned or subject to new legislation to control them.
She said: "It's kind of half and half. My best friend has them and breeds them. I can walk around hers and I've actually gone up and stroked them to get myself back to not being afraid of them.
"I don't like the fact Staffordshire bull terriers are a status dog. I would prefer them to be muzzled in public places and when there are lots of kids around. A muzzle is not going to hurt a dog."
The family is now considering whether to pursue a civil claim, she said.
Your Say YourThisisdorset
michael carpenter, BOSCOMBE says...
11:26am Sat 17 May 08
jp101, bournemouth says...
4:14pm Sat 17 May 08
I own a stafford he loves everyone especially kids they are known for their affection to children! Did you know they always score higher in tempremnt tests than a golden retiever, poodle, spaniels? No cause you dont care its easier to blame the dogs, when its the owners that are the problem! The adult in charge of the child was warned that the dog is not good with kids, however the extra pint won out and no one was looking after the child! So had the adult listened this could have been avoided, from the sounds of it yes this dog should have been muzzled as it is known to be questionable around kids! So i think its 50 50 blame in this case!
I have a stafford and there is no way he should be punished by having to wear a muzzle because he hasnt done anything wrong and most staffords out their are perfectly well behaved! This type of dog will be whatever you ask them to be, so if an owner encourages it to be aggresive it will be! Surely a better answer is to focus a law on ownership rather than punishment for innocent families and dogs????
It must also be said that its good to see the little girl doing so well and its great she has no fear of dogs, she sounds like a happy little girl and has bounced back fast, as surely amongst all this, the child is the most important thing! And i wish the mother all the best and hope she can put this behind her soon.
unofficialbash, Bashley Crossroads says...
6:43pm Sat 17 May 08
unofficialbash, Bashley Crossroads says...
6:51pm Sat 17 May 08
jp101, bournemouth says...
6:54pm Sat 17 May 08
unofficialbash wrote:idit? i think you are, no one has suggested for a minute that a child isnt worth x number of dogs, it's idiots like you that are the problem! so it doesnt matter that no one was actually looking after the child then? er no. Its obviously all the dogs! and staffs aren't classified as dangerous! idiot
Idiots, one child is worth more than all the dogs on the planet, i would have all dangerous breeds exterminated, and their precious owners with them.
godzilla, hamworthy says...
11:37pm Sat 17 May 08
laurie marsh, australia says...
10:18am Sun 18 May 08
IF A MAN TAKES A 2 YEAR OLD KID INTO A PUB HE SHOULD LOOK AFTER HER.
ALCOHOL AND RESPONSIBILITY ARE A POOR MIX!
WHO IS THE (POSSIBLE) CIVL CLAIM TO BE AIMED AT?
Will Bashem, Poole says...
1:28pm Sun 18 May 08
laurie marsh, australia says...
1:39pm Sun 18 May 08
DRUID OR PACIFIST? (SORRY ABOUT THE FIST BIT!)
Will Bashem, Poole says...
1:57pm Sun 18 May 08
clusters, Bournemouth, Dorset says...
9:27am Mon 19 May 08
jp101, bournemouth says...
1:56pm Mon 19 May 08
Will Bashem wrote:If you read my post i think it explains, it shifts papers, pet poodle attacks or dangerous bull terrier rips face off, what is going to move more papers??? Staffords have a far higher score in tempremtent test than almost all other breeds! so is it the dog? no its idiot owners! i own a staff and believe me i hate the stigma attached, ''look at my hard dog'' its stupid as staffs are in the correct hands the best dogs in the world! in the wrong hands they can be the worst! this incident like i said is 50/50 the dog should have been under control but then again so should the child, the adult had been warned the dog was not good with kids, if that was me, the child would have been kept away from the dog. Both parties chose to ignore the risk and both paid the price!
"I'm 'ard I am",this is the message these pathetic idiots are giving by owning one of these breeds."He would'nt hurt a fly,he is sooo good with kids",Well if thats the case,why do we keep getting these headlines.Cull the lot I say.
In the park all the kids come running over to my dog when they see him to play as they all see him frequently, it concerns me this happens ok my dogs fine he loves kids and its the highlight of his day chasing the kids around and letting them cuddle him. I try to explain that although its ok with my dog, they should always ask the owner first to make sure the dog is friendly!
Dog owners and parents need to take responsiblity its all well and good moaning about it afterwards but surely prevention is better than a cure?
Also please note most people who own this breed are actually responsible and more likely to have control as we know if our dog gets into a fight with another dog who will get the blame? the staffords because of poor media coverage and yes that is aimed at the daily echo! because at the start of this story it was published as a pitbull staffordshire bull terrier, (no such breed) i also have to ask if the echo insists on running these one sided stories why on earth do they have staffords advertised for sale in the classifieds?? i have also seen 'irish staffords' for sale in echo again no such breed but it is a code name for a pitbull, maybe the echo should have more responsibilty also????
jp101, bournemouth says...
2:25pm Mon 19 May 08
When its printed like this it is easy to jump in and blame all dogs but when the facts are actually published it makes very different reading, its funny how it is never mentioned untill after it had gone to court is it not ? that the adult in charge of the girl had been warned! Another case in point, the teenager attacked by two dogs breed not printed turns out it wasnt a bull terrier type so.... dont print the breed, it is a bull terrier print the breed! It is easy to see how the media governs our thoughts! i think the echo needs to check themselves for a) creating mass fear and b) still making money advertising the breed for sale in its papers! never mind the facts sell more papers make more money! it's disgraceful! this is why the dangerous dogs act is so poor because of nonsense printed creates fear quick law passed now over a decade on and dog attacks are just as common! Come on echo you have a duty to people in this area print all the facts and not want you want to make money!
Again it is good the little girl is making a recovery and i hope her mum can get things back to normal as soon as possible,
BRAVE: Kira Neal, two, has made a good recovery after the dog attack says mum Sam
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Howard Yocom, Gulfport, Ms. U.S.A. says...
9:13am Sat 17 May 08