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Dog put down after two attacks
A dog which attacked and hospitalised a 10-year-old schoolboy has been put down after it savaged a second child.
Police and dog wardens seized the Japanese Akita dog called Blade yesterday morning after the latest incident on Tuesday night.
It was taken from the home of its owner, Telena Ronald, aged 30, of Maple Drive in Bamber Bridge, and destroyed.
A spokesman for Leyland police confirmed that an 11-year-old boy had been bitten on the arm and shoulder by the dog just after 6pm on Tuesday.
He was taken to hospital and was able to return home after treatment for his injuries.
It is the second attack on a small child by the same dog in a matter of months.
In September, 10-year-old Aaron Cooper of Maple Drive was playing in the back garden of Miss Ronald's home with her son, when he was pinned down by the dog.
Because the first attack happened on private property, the police had no legal power to seize the dog and the owner refused to hand it over.
Miss Ronald is due to appear in South Ribble Magistrates' Court next Tuesday to face a civil complaint seeking the animal's destruction under the Dogs Act 1871.
Aaron, who needed 25 stitches to his wounds, had been set to give evidence by video link.
His mother, Kaye Cooper, also of Maple Drive, said: "I feel relieved and safer, and at least Aaron doesn't have to go through it all again.
"He had been putting it behind him, but had started to get clingy and bit unsettled knowing he had to give evidence at court next week.
"This law needs changing because it shouldn't have had to happen a second time. Animals should not have more rights than humans and the government needs to close this loophole."
A police spokesman said: "The dog was seized and has since been destroyed.
"We can confirm that this dog was involved in a similar incident earlier this year.
"As this happened on private land and the law prevented police from seizing the dog, positive action was taken by officers who had applied to the court for destruction of the dog."
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Weather for Preston
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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Temperature: -6 C to 4 C
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