Two-year-old boy “lucky to be alive” after pocket bully dog attack

A mother stated her two-year-old son was fortunate to survive after he was “horrifically” attacked by a pocket bully dog during trick-or-treating. Danielle Gunston reported that she, along with four other adults and six children, was engaged in trick-or-treating in Bexhill on Halloween when a dog emerged and bit her son, Alfred, on the face. Alfred sustained a broken jaw, missing teeth, 15 small punctures, and two deep lacerations on his cheek and neck, injuries which Ms. Gunston, aged 33, indicated might result in scarring. Ms. Gunston, residing in Bexhill, East Sussex, is advocating for legislation that would mandate owners of specific dog breeds to exhibit a warning sign outside their residences. Additionally, she aims to increase public awareness regarding appropriate actions during a dog attack. “All of a sudden there was a horrendous growl and this dog came running and pounced on Alfred,” Ms Gunston said. “It pinned him to the floor.”The children went running. They were screaming.” Alfred’s father, assisted by another man present in the group, succeeded in freeing the child’s head from the dog’s jaws. Ms. Gunston identified the dog as a pocket bully. The pocket bully is a variant of the American bully breed, which also encompasses the larger and more muscular XL type. The UK government, in response to a series of attacks, declared it a criminal offense to own a bully XL without a valid certificate of exemption starting February 2024. Nevertheless, this regulation does not extend to the smaller pocket variant. Sussex Police informed the BBC that no arrests have occurred subsequent to the incident, which remains under investigation. The police force stated that the dog has since been euthanized in accordance with the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991. Alfred’s grandmother and his three siblings observed the attack, an event Ms. Gunston reported left them “absolutely traumatised.” One of her children is currently receiving counselling. She stated that Alfred was transported to A&E, and he is presently recuperating at home following the surgical insertion of a metal plate in his jaw at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. “We are in absolute awe of Alfred,” Ms Gunston said. “He has been so brave.”