A MOTHER has spoken of her horror after her six-year-old daughter was bitten by a dog and its owners walked away leaving her with blood pouring down her face.

Russell Claydon

A MOTHER has spoken of her horror after her six-year-old daughter was bitten by a dog and its owners walked away leaving her with blood pouring down her face.

Chanelle Peters received a deep cut an inch from her eye which had to be glued together to stop the bleeding and is now on a course of antibiotics.

She had been playing in a Haverhill park with her sister Angelica, nine, and brother Conor, eight, on Saturday morning at about 9.45am when she asked to stroke a couple's dog.

The golden-coloured animal, which has been described as smaller than a Labrador and thought to be a type of Spaniel, then attacked her, biting her under her eye and on her arm.

The New Cangle Community Primary School pupil was asked if she was okay by the couple, who then walked off after she did not reply, leaving her to run to her nearby home screaming.

Her mother Sharon Peters, 40, of Colbeck Road, Haverhill, said: “She had blood all down her face and hands. My heart was beating really fast and it was really scary.

“She is so used to dogs and loves animals and it was a real shock to her. I had always told her not to stroke dogs unless you ask.

“It makes me so angry they have walked off and left her. If it was my dog I would have walked them home, you might not have got a decent reception but it is the decent thing to do.”

A police investigation is now underway to locate the owners of the golden dog which attacked Chanelle in the park off Hales Barn Road.

“I need to know what the circumstances were but if this dog has bitten before you need to get a muzzle on it. It cannot just go around and bite people,” said Mrs Peters.

“If it is biting young children something needs to be done, especially if they walk off and left her. What responsible dog owners would do that?”

She added: “I would urge other parents to be careful. I would not let mine stroke any other dog now.”

The owners of the animal are described as a white man with dark spiked hair and a woman who had shoulder length blonde hair. The dog was between one and a half and two ft high and was called Jake.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: “Dog owners need to be responsible for their dogs at all times and keep them on a lead and walk them responsibly.”

Anyone with information is urged to call PC Victoria Anthistle at Haverhill Police on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.