A 13-year-old girl was left covered in blood after a dog attacked her on the way home from school.
Ruby Crossland was walking under the Rice Lane flyover in Liverpool with her friends when they were met by large dog which had been let off its lead.
But when Ruby went to stroke it the animal lunged at her face and bit her arm. She suffered a wound to her arm and had to be treated at Alder Hey.
Ruby, from Kirkdale, was left covered in blood, and cried for her mum. Her friends took her back to Alsop High where staff called the police. Ruby's parents contacted the ECHO to highlight the issue of owners failing to control dogs.
Ruby said: "I was on way my home from school on Friday afternoon and we were running under the flyover. One of my friends ran ahead, and then started stroking this big dog.
"But when I went to stroke it the dog went for me. I managed to pull my face away, but it got my arm. There was blood everywhere and I was crying for my mum.
"I remember hearing the owner shouting at my friends. He called one of them a 'fat cow' and said to the lads 'what are you going to do about it.'
"My mates took me back to school, and I was taken to the first aid room. The police came, and took photographs of my arm."
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW
Ruby said that she thinks she was bitten by an Akita dog.
She said: "My mum showed my pictures of differing dogs and I think it was an Akita."
Ruby's mum took her to Alder Hey after the attack where they treated the wound to her arm.
The youngster said: "They gave me laughing gas while they cleaned up my arm. It's ok now but I keep having flashbacks and nightmares about it.
"My mum now picks me up from school. "
Ruby had to return to Alder Hey and was given a local anesthetic when staff cleaned the wound to her arm.
She said that she recognised the owner of the dog, adding: "I have seen him before, walking his dog in the area. I think some of my mates know who he is."
Ruby's step dad Paul Williamson said: "This was a horrendous incident and we are furious with the man who let his dog off the lead. He hurled vile abuse at schoolkids and then just made off.
"I want the police to catch up with him as soon as possible.
"Ruby is ok but she could have been scarred for life. We are livid."
Anyone with information about the incident which happened at around 2.30pm on Friday should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
