A three-year-old girl suffered a shock attack from a cockapoo outside a primary school in Rainham, Kent. Young Bunnie was attacked by the animal when out with her father, Rowen Skinley, and her two siblings. The incident happened near Miers Court Primary School on Tuesday, and Bunnie was left with severe skin injuries. She was then taken to a local hospital where she received plastic surgery.
The dog owner rushed away from the scene, but bystanders were quick to assist Rowen and his young daughter. Rowen revealed that he had to “hold the skin on [Bunnie’s] arm together” while she was waiting for treatment in the hospital. The incident is now being investigated by Kent Police. Bunnie was brought to Medway Maritime Hospital and then transferred to St Thomas’ in Westminster the next morning. She had several X-rays to ensure the puncture hadn’t hit her bone before she was given plastic surgery to repair the skin damage.
Rowen said of the incident: “It happened parallel to the school on the main road. I was just walking home after the school run. The path is quite narrow, and a woman was walking her dog on the actual road itself.
“Then, out of nowhere, the dog just lunged for my daughter and pulled her to the floor. The owner managed to pull the dog off, but when she did that, it ripped her skin open. I was so shocked. All I had to stop the bleeding was my hands. I had to basically hold her skin together.”
Bunnie will need to return to the hospital in a few weeks for a check-up to find out if she will need further work done.
He added: “People who saw what happened came over and said that my daughter hadn’t even put her hand out to the dog. The woman just disappeared. She didn’t leave any details or anything.”
He revealed that Bunnie is shaken after the attack. “She’s doing well now,” he said. ” She’s just a bit shaken and keeps talking about how scared she is of the dog.
“She also has a lung condition and really bad asthma, so she had to be marked down as a high-risk category for sedation. It’s really upsetting that the woman didn’t stop because it makes you fear for the safety of other kids.”
Anyone with information that could assist officers’ inquiries, including CCTV or doorbell footage, is advised to contact police on 01634 792209, quoting 46/102876/25.