My little boy’s skull was exposed after dog mauled his head in beer garden – here’s what I want to say to its owners
THE mother of a young boy whose skull was exposed after a dog mauled him in a beer garden has now spoken out following the horror attack.
Wiktoria Matusiak, 29, has urged the dog’s owners to surrender themselves after her seven-year-old son Paul Ciardini was dead attacked earlier this month.
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Paul was walking towards the children’s pub’s playground in Swanage, Dorset, just after 5pm on May 2 when he was attacked by the large dog, possibly a Wirehaired Pointer.
The schoolboy was bitten on the head and the 2 inch wound was so deep that his skull was exposed.
His horrified mother picked up her child and brought her inside while an ambulance was called.
Wiktoria has revealed the dog’s owners ignored calls from customers to stay put until police arrived and quickly left with their pet.
She said it was unforgivable those days dog attack The man and woman, in their late 40s or early 50s, still hadn’t gotten in touch.
Wiktoria said: “I can understand that they might have been shocked to see what had happened and that might be why they did what they did.
“But you would have thought it would have come days after and checking in to see if my son is okay is dead wrong.
“When we got to the hospital the doctors had no information on what breed of dog it was and whether it had been vaccinated – information that could have helped them.
“You must come forward because I do not want another child to be attacked by this dog.”
You must come forward because I don’t want another child to be attacked by this dog
Paul’s mother Wiktoria Matusiak
Wiktoria works behind the bar at the Crow’s Nest Inn pub in Swanage.
She had stopped by with her son to speak to her boss when Paul walked outside to the playground.
She was told by customers that although the dog was on a leash, she was not being held at the time.
She said: “He went to the children’s playground while I was talking to my boss. Then I heard a scream and saw him screaming on the grass covered in blood.
“The woman was holding him and the man was with the dog. I just grabbed my son and ran inside and asked people to call an ambulance.
“I could see how deep the wound was on his head. We went to the kitchen to try to stem the blood and my boss called the police.
“She went outside and customers told her they told the couple to stay there but they just walked away.
“It was a busy time and nobody really saw her leave.”
In addition to the severe head wound, Paul also suffered bruises and bite marks on his back and side.
He underwent surgery under general anesthesia to treat the head wound and stayed in Poole Hospital for two nights.
Wiktoria added: “The owners couldn’t be sure how their dog would react to children but they sat in the garden where there is a children’s play area. They should have kept the dog on a leash.
“It’s not for me to say whether the dog should be euthanized, but it needs to be checked that it’s safe around people.”
Paul’s aunt Jennifer Latimer said: “I can’t believe they still haven’t been found or why they haven’t gotten in touch. What kind of people are these? Absolutely shocking.
“After the attack, the couple took their dog and immediately left.
“The police are still looking for them.
I can’t believe they still haven’t been found or why they haven’t gotten in touch. Who are those people? Absolutely shocking.
Paul’s aunt Jennifer Latimer
“This is extremely serious and it is important that they find this dog.
“This dog was not on a leash. My nephew did nothing to provoke the attack.
“He had head surgery and thank God he’s recovering.
“They need to be caught before it happens again because maybe that person/kid won’t be so lucky next time.”
Dorset Police have released a photo of the man and woman restraining their dog shortly after the attack.
The man has cropped gray hair and was wearing black-rimmed glasses at the time.
The woman has shoulder length brown hair and was wearing a dark blue or black jacket and blue and white shorts at the time.
The dog is believed to be either a German Wirehaired Pointer or an Italian Spinone breed. It has brown and white shaggy fur.
A Dorset Police spokesman said there were “no further updates at this time and our investigation is ongoing”.
“BURDENING INCIDENT”
PC Alistair James of Purbeck Police said: “This was understandably a worrying incident for the boy involved and his family and we hope he makes a full recovery from his injury.
“We are conducting inquiries into this matter and have received an image of a man and woman with the dog believed to be involved.
“We would like to speak to these people so that we can update them on what has happened.
“I would urge anyone with information regarding their identity to come forward.
“I would also ask the man and woman pictured to do the right thing and come forward.
“I would also like to hear from any witnesses to the incident who have not yet spoken to the police.”
It comes as Britain struggles on Epidemic of Malignant Maulingswith incidents already hitting a 40-year high this year.
This year alone, three people have been brutally attacked and killed – including four year old Alice Stones who was killed by her family’s dog in her garden.
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