Family fundraising to help schoolgirl overcome shock dog attack

Keighley child Peyton Spilsbury required plastic surgery after the animal caused over a dozen deep lacerations to her face three months ago.

The seven-year-old now struggles to leave the house as she feels like a "monster".

Peyton is still battling mental demons (Image: Newsquest)

Mother Bronte Waddington said: "She struggles on a daily basis with nightmares of the dog attack.

"She has since been having panic attacks and anxiety."

The attack occurred at a family friend's house on Thursday, July 7, and involved a 10-month-old Akita.

Peyton, a Steeton Primary School pupil, was calmly stroking the dog in the garden before it went for her face out of nowhere, her family said.

Police were informed of the attack on the day but it is understood it took them two weeks to seize the dog and send it to the kennels as an investigation ensued.

A week later, Peyton's family were informed that the animal had died of natural causes.

She required over 100 stitches (Image: Newsquest)

Stepmum Chloe Woodward added: "After it happened the family were really apologetic and shocked. 

"We had been before and the dog was fine with her.

"They (the family) had a newborn in the house at the time too."

Peyton also needed plastic surgery (Image: Newsquest)

The incident left Peyton needing hours of plastic surgery and over 100 stitches as the pictures taken at the time show.

Not only did the attack damage her physically but it has left mental scars that she is yet to overcome.

It means her family are now desperate to be able to afford private counselling as soon as possible.

The attack hit the family hard (Image: PA)

A fundraiser has been launched by the family with the goal of reaching £5,000.

In her appeal, on gofundme, Mrs Waddington said: "We are raising money for our daughter - who was unfortunately attacked by a dog in July.

"She had 13 deep lacerations to her face, which have caused permanent scars.

"She had to undergo plastic surgery to close up the wounds due to the severity of the attack.

"It has been a whirlwind couple of months, and raising money for her has been put to the back of our minds to help her through this.

"She had a fear of leaving the house due to anxiety and feeling like she looked like a monster.

"She had to have time off school, which pushed her behind due to her recovery.

"She now struggles daily with nightmares of the dog attack and has since been having panic attacks and anxiety due to this.

Peyton now needs counselling (Image: Newsquest)

She added: "This has caused us to take her to free emergency counselling appointments, which is different people each time, and Peyton is very anxious with new people.

"We are also on many waiting lists for regular counselling to help her through this, but unfortunately, there are long waiting lists for this.

"We are looking to raise funds to get private counselling to help our daughter sooner.

Any donation would be much appreciated to get her the help she needs so we can get our daughter back to her happy, loving self."

When approached by the Telegraph & Argus, police confirmed what happened during and after the incident.

The investigation has since been closed after Peyton's family no longer wanted to pursue a prosecution against the dog’s owner. 

A spokesperson from the force said: "West Yorkshire Police received a report of an incident on July 7, where a girl had been bitten by a dog in the garden of an address in Keighley.

"The dog was seized and taken into kennels while an investigation was launched into the matter.

"The dog passed away while in kennels and this information was passed on to the family of the victim, who subsequently advised they no longer wished to pursue a prosecution against the dog’s owner. 

"This matter has now been closed in accordance with the wishes of the victim’s family."

If you would like to donate to help the family reach the £5,000 needed for Peyton's private counselling, click here.