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Horror as vicious dog attacks girl on skatepark

Michelle McKenna
20/10/2005

AN EIGHT-year-old girl has been left scarred for life after she was bitten by a dog while playing at Great Harwood skatepark.

Sally Lonsdale, of George Avenue, Great Harwood, was rollerskating with friends when she tripped over and was attacked by the animal, which had been brought into the Game Street skatepark by a teenage boy.

The dog bit her on the arm, leaving a deep gash and she was rushed to Blackburn Royal Infirmary by her worried parents, Helen and Robert.

Sally, a pupil at St Wulstan's Primary School, thinks the dog could have been a Boxer, but is unsure.

Helen said: "Sally was at the skatepark with her friends and an older girl and I got a call from the older girl saying that Sally had been bitten by a dog and it was bad and she had taken her round to her gran's house nearby.

"I rushed over and took a look at the wound then took her straight to hospital.

"They were concerned and gave her some painkillers straight away. "

The couple, who have two other children, Harry, five, and Amy, 18 months, said they won't be letting Sally return to the skatepark.

Helen said: "The skatepark is a fenced off enclosure and we thought this was a safe and fun place for children to go.

"She was not good with dogs in the first place but this has made her worse. We won't be letting her go back again, which is a shame.

"They have built that for the kids and somebody has had to go and spoil it."

Helen and Robert were horrified by the attack and are calling on Hyndburn Council to take action to prevent animals being brought into skateparks.

Helen said: "We want to prevent this from happening to another child.

"I contacted the council and they said they couldn't have done anything to prevent it but it wouldn't have happened if the dog had not been in there in the first place. We would like to see signs at the skatepark banning dogs."

Councillor Brian Walmsley, portfolio holder for leisure, said: "Dogs should not be on that section of the park and there is a self-closing gate on there to deter them.

"We are also looking into the possibility of putting up a sign to let people know that dogs are not allowed."

Great Harwood Police are looking into the incident and anyone with information should contact Sergeant Jones on 884800.