21 June 2023 , 15:09
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A schoolgirl suffered horrific injuries when she was “mauled like a rag doll” by a dog at a canine training class.
A large dog, believed to be an Anatolian Shepherd, pulled Annabell Rowdon, eight, to the ground in the sudden attack.
The schoolgirl had the flesh ripped from her left forearm and her bones broken before the dog was finally pulled away by her horrified grandfather Steven Rowdon, 63, and a trainer.
She was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridgeshire, where she underwent five hours of surgery for the broken bones and cuts.
Cambridge Police are currently investigating the incident on June 11 at 10am.
Girl, 4, mauled to death in dog attack pictured as neighbours hear mum's screams
The schoolgirl is now recovering at home (Sonia Rowdon / SWNS)
An x-ray of Annabell's arm shows both bones in her left arm were broken in the attack (Sonia Rowdon / SWNS)Annabell’s mother, Sonia Rowden, said of the horror attack: “If it had grabbed her face, or heaven forbid her stomach and caught her internal organs, this could have been an entirely different situation.
“We are proper dog owners. We're not naïve, we know they can be powerful animals, so we make sure we have the support we need to control our dogs."
Annabell had spent the weekend with her grandfather Steven and had accompanied him to a training course for reactive dogs at a playing field in Horseheath, south of Cambridge.
It was there a large dog, believed to be an Anatolian Shepherd, had a "little go" at his German Shepherd before the owners moved their dogs away from each other.
A few minutes later, the other dog allegedly pulled away from its owner, and pounced on helpless Annabell who was standing nearby.
Steven claims: "We were given instructions that the dogs were to be kept on the lead at all times, and under strict control.
"When it attacked, it bypassed my dog, me, another dog and its owner and made a beeline straight for my granddaughter.
"It was only for a second or two, but it shook her like a ragdoll."
Steven and the trainer leading the class leapt into action, and managed to force the dog to let go of Annabell.
Annabell is now recovering at home, but may require further surgery.
Dog shot dead by police after mauling girl, 4, to death in horror attack
She has been left shaken by the attack and her family are furious that the dog was allowed to become so out of control.
Steven added: "You hear about a child being killed by a dog, but the other children that get maimed and mutilated by these things, you very rarely hear about.
"People need to be made aware."
A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson, said: "We were called at about 10.20am on Sunday, 11 June, with reports a girl had been bitten by a dog in Linton Road, Horseheath.
"The eight-year-old girl was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
"A crime has been raised for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and an investigation into the incident is ongoing."