Dog ripped off girl’s lip when she went to pet it in pub car park

Warning: Graphic images.

Kiera Young, seven, has been scarred for life after the dog sank its teeth into her lip (Picture: SWNS)

A seven-year-old girl has been left scarred for life after her lip was bitten off by a dog as she stroked it.

Kiera Young was outside a pub while out celebrating a relative’s birthday when the Akita dog sank its teeth into her face.

She needed three hours of surgery and is now recovering well but has been permanently scarred and left with a fear of dogs.

Kiera and her family had gone out for a meal to celebrate the 60th birthday of her grandmother’s sister.

As they walked towards the pub in Boston, Lincolnshire, Kiera spotted the dog outside and stroked it after asking the owners if it was okay.

Kiera Woodhouse, 7 of Nottingham after reconstructive surgery at Lincoln Hospital, 2018. An autistic schoolgirl has been left "mentally scarred" after she was left with horrific facial injuries from a vicious dog attack. See SWNS story SWMDmaul. Kiera Young, 7, had her lip ripped off after stoking a white and black Akita outside the Witham Tavern, Boston, on February 27 just after 2pm. Her grandmother Sharon Young, 57, had taken her to the pub for her sister Debbie Hayes 60th Birthday. The mum-of-two, from Nottingham walked, whilst Kiera was driven down by Debbie. The 57-year-old said she heard her granddaughter screaming across the river and dashed to the scene. She saw Kiera bleeding from her mouth and rushed her to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, where her wounds were cleaned. The youngster, spent nearly three hours in surgery at Lincolnshire Hospital the next day to repair her facial injuries. Kiera was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and struggles to eat and keeps her distance when ever she see a dog in the street since the attack. Sharon, who been Kiera's carer since she was 11 months old, said she has still not received an apology from the dog's owners.
Her family say she asked the dog’s owners if it was okay to stroke it (Picture: SWNS)
Kiera Woodhouse,7 of Nottingham, the day of the dog attack 2018. An autistic schoolgirl has been left "mentally scarred" after she was left with horrific facial injuries from a vicious dog attack. See SWNS story SWMDmaul. Kiera Young, 7, had her lip ripped off after stoking a white and black Akita outside the Witham Tavern, Boston, on February 27 just after 2pm. Her grandmother Sharon Young, 57, had taken her to the pub for her sister Debbie Hayes 60th Birthday. The mum-of-two, from Nottingham walked, whilst Kiera was driven down by Debbie. The 57-year-old said she heard her granddaughter screaming across the river and dashed to the scene. She saw Kiera bleeding from her mouth and rushed her to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, where her wounds were cleaned. The youngster, spent nearly three hours in surgery at Lincolnshire Hospital the next day to repair her facial injuries. Kiera was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and struggles to eat and keeps her distance when ever she see a dog in the street since the attack. Sharon, who been Kiera's carer since she was 11 months old, said she has still not received an apology from the dog's owners.
Kiera needed three hours of surgery after a large chunk of her lip was ripped off (Picture: SWNS)

Her grandmother Sharon Young, 57, said: ‘They told her the dog was child-friendly and had been told it was fine to stroke, so she petted it.

The couple who were sitting outside with their black-and-white Akita went into the pub and came back out when Kiera asked to stroke it again.

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It was at that moment she was bitten in the face by the snarling dog.

‘The owners pulled it back and that caused the gum to pull away from her lip,’ Sharon added.

Kiera, from Nottingham, was in so much pain Sharon and her nephew decided to drive her to hospital instead of wait for an ambulance.

‘She’s now out and recovering well, she’s a bit better but is still wary of dogs,’ said Sharon.

Kiera Woodhouse,7 of Nottingham now healed after the dog attack. An autistic schoolgirl has been left "mentally scarred" after she was left with horrific facial injuries from a vicious dog attack. See SWNS story SWMDmaul. Kiera Young, 7, had her lip ripped off after stoking a white and black Akita outside the Witham Tavern, Boston, on February 27 just after 2pm. Her grandmother Sharon Young, 57, had taken her to the pub for her sister Debbie Hayes 60th Birthday. The mum-of-two, from Nottingham walked, whilst Kiera was driven down by Debbie. The 57-year-old said she heard her granddaughter screaming across the river and dashed to the scene. She saw Kiera bleeding from her mouth and rushed her to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, where her wounds were cleaned. The youngster, spent nearly three hours in surgery at Lincolnshire Hospital the next day to repair her facial injuries. Kiera was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and struggles to eat and keeps her distance when ever she see a dog in the street since the attack. Sharon, who been Kiera's carer since she was 11 months old, said she has still not received an apology from the dog's owners.
The seven-year-old girl with autism gets nervous whenever dogs pass by (Picture: SWNS)
Kiera Woodhouse, 7 of Nottingham, 2 months after surgery. An autistic schoolgirl has been left "mentally scarred" after she was left with horrific facial injuries from a vicious dog attack. See SWNS story SWMDmaul. Kiera Young, 7, had her lip ripped off after stoking a white and black Akita outside the Witham Tavern, Boston, on February 27 just after 2pm. Her grandmother Sharon Young, 57, had taken her to the pub for her sister Debbie Hayes 60th Birthday. The mum-of-two, from Nottingham walked, whilst Kiera was driven down by Debbie. The 57-year-old said she heard her granddaughter screaming across the river and dashed to the scene. She saw Kiera bleeding from her mouth and rushed her to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, where her wounds were cleaned. The youngster, spent nearly three hours in surgery at Lincolnshire Hospital the next day to repair her facial injuries. Kiera was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and struggles to eat and keeps her distance when ever she see a dog in the street since the attack. Sharon, who been Kiera's carer since she was 11 months old, said she has still not received an apology from the dog's owners.
She’s recovering well but will have permanent scars as a result of the attack (Picture: SWNS)

‘We’ve told her that not all dogs are the same but it will take some time for her to get over what’s happened.’

‘She’s still scared of dogs and can’t eat very well as the injury went down to her bone.

Kiera used to love playing with her grandmother’s chocolate Labrador Reggie, but since the Sharon had to re-home him.

‘She started to get wary of him because he was getting bigger.

‘She now backs off and keeps her distance when we see dogs in the street.’

Sharon says her granddaughter, who has autism, has been ‘mentally scared’ by the incident but said the family are ‘doing their best’ to help.

FILE PICTURE - An Akita dog (THIS IS NOT THE DOG INVOLVED IN THE ATTACK). An autistic schoolgirl has been left "mentally scarred" after she was left with horrific facial injuries from a vicious dog attack. See SWNS story SWMDmaul. Kiera Young, 7, had her lip ripped off after stoking a white and black Akita outside the Witham Tavern, Boston, on February 27 just after 2pm. Her grandmother Sharon Young, 57, had taken her to the pub for her sister Debbie Hayes 60th Birthday. The mum-of-two, from Nottingham walked, whilst Kiera was driven down by Debbie. The 57-year-old said she heard her granddaughter screaming across the river and dashed to the scene. She saw Kiera bleeding from her mouth and rushed her to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, where her wounds were cleaned. The youngster, spent nearly three hours in surgery at Lincolnshire Hospital the next day to repair her facial injuries. Kiera was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and struggles to eat and keeps her distance when ever she see a dog in the street since the attack. Sharon, who been Kiera's carer since she was 11 months old, said she has still not received an apology from the dog's owners.
A black and white Akita dog attacked the schoolgirl (Picture: SWNS)

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Kiera Woodhouse,7 of Nottingham before the dog attack June 2018 whilst on holiday in Italy. An autistic schoolgirl has been left "mentally scarred" after she was left with horrific facial injuries from a vicious dog attack. See SWNS story SWMDmaul. Kiera Young, 7, had her lip ripped off after stoking a white and black Akita outside the Witham Tavern, Boston, on February 27 just after 2pm. Her grandmother Sharon Young, 57, had taken her to the pub for her sister Debbie Hayes 60th Birthday. The mum-of-two, from Nottingham walked, whilst Kiera was driven down by Debbie. The 57-year-old said she heard her granddaughter screaming across the river and dashed to the scene. She saw Kiera bleeding from her mouth and rushed her to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, where her wounds were cleaned. The youngster, spent nearly three hours in surgery at Lincolnshire Hospital the next day to repair her facial injuries. Kiera was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and struggles to eat and keeps her distance when ever she see a dog in the street since the attack. Sharon, who been Kiera's carer since she was 11 months old, said she has still not received an apology from the dog's owners.
Kiera has been left ‘mentally scarred’ from the ordeal in Boston, Lincolnshire (Picture: SWNS)
Sharon Young speaks about the dog attack on her grandaughter. An autistic schoolgirl has been left "mentally scarred" after she was left with horrific facial injuries from a vicious dog attack. See SWNS story SWMDmaul. Kiera Young, 7, had her lip ripped off after stoking a white and black Akita outside the Witham Tavern, Boston, on February 27 just after 2pm. Her grandmother Sharon Young, 57, had taken her to the pub for her sister Debbie Hayes 60th Birthday. The mum-of-two, from Nottingham walked, whilst Kiera was driven down by Debbie. The 57-year-old said she heard her granddaughter screaming across the river and dashed to the scene. She saw Kiera bleeding from her mouth and rushed her to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, where her wounds were cleaned. The youngster, spent nearly three hours in surgery at Lincolnshire Hospital the next day to repair her facial injuries. Kiera was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and struggles to eat and keeps her distance when ever she see a dog in the street since the attack. Sharon, who been Kiera's carer since she was 11 months old, said she has still not received an apology from the dog's owners.
Her grandmother Sharon Young says police decided not to press charges (Picture: SWNS)

She says police were called after the attack but have now told the family they aren’t pressing charges because the dog showed no aggression before.

‘The dog could have easily gone for her throat,’ said Sharon.

‘How many times does this need to happen before the police do something.’

Lincolnshire Police have since confirmed the owners were not charged and said the dog had been destroyed.