A six-year-old boy has been left scarred for life after he was attacked by a Rhodesian Ridgeback as he helped his mother bring in the washing.
Erfan Ali's face and hands were mauled in the attack, which took place in the garden of his family home in Cardiff, after the animal leaped over a 4ft fence and chased him into the house.
Eight months after the attack, Erfan, now seven, still suffers nightmares and struggles to sleep alone.
The little boy had 70 stitches and had to have skin grafts during a five-hour operation following the savage attack. He will have to have further surgery as he grows older.
His father Dilwar told Wales Online: “His scars will be there for the rest of his life. The scars are not just physical – Erfan cries at night, he doesn’t want to sleep alone and he feels safer in school because there are big gates and other children around him.
“He’s extremely scared of dogs but he doesn’t trust any animal, not even cats.
"He sees a psychologist every three weeks and he has medical check-ups every three months and is due to see a consultant in six months to see what further treatment and operations are needed.”
Mr Ali has since moved his family to a new address, but admits his son is still fearful as the attack happened indoors.
He is standing for Labour in Llandaff North in next month’s local elections and is campaigning to change the law.
The dog’s owner, Kevin Edward Large, has pleaded guilty to failing to control the animal, who has since been destroyed.
Large (below) has been warned he could face jail when he is sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court next month.
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Police officers detain a supporter of female Russian punk band Pussy Riot outside the court in Moscow, on April 19, 2012, before the hearings on the Pussy Riot case. Three members of the all-woman punk band 'Pussy Riot' were detained two months ago, after they climbed on the altar of Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral -- the country's central place of worship -- and sang a song they called a 'Punk Prayer'. The women have been charged with hooliganism committed by an organised group -- an unusually harsh charge for protesters. (Photo credit: ANDREY SMIRNOV/AFP/Getty Images)
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Huffington Post UK | By Sara C Nelson Posted: 19/04/2012 12:47 Updated: 19/04/2012 13:01