A 56-year-old man was charged on Monday with allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and causing injury, after a six-year-old girl had part of her ear bitten off in a park in Chingford, Essex, the Metropolitan Police said.
The man handed himself into Chingford police on Sunday, Scotland Yard confirmed, after the attack at Pole Hill, Woodberry Way, on Saturday. The victim, a six-year-old girl, suffered injuries to her neck and shoulder. Her parents witnessed the attack.
The dog is believed to be a black and white bull terrier.
"This was an appalling incident that left a young child with serious injuries which are likely to scar her for life," said Detective Sergeant Stuart Cheek, of Waltham Forest police.
Reported by the BBC, Terrence Lundy witnessed the aftermath of the attack. He said: "This woman came running down with her husband and another little kid, so obviously a family of four, and she was holding on to her ear and screaming 'Keep your dogs away from my daughter. Keep your dogs away from my daughter'.
"I ran over there to her. I knew something had happened.
The girl, who has not been named, was taken to hospital for surgery.