The pair – both who suffered serious injuries – were set upon by the dog after it escaped from it’s pen on the farm where it’s kept in Staffordshire.
The attack, which happened yesterday afternoon, left the child with a broken leg and facial injuries, while the grandmother was bitten numerous times as she tried to protect her child. It’s reported both have now undergone surgery and are recovering.
The French Mastiff has now been destroyed and a man in his 60s has been arrested under the Dangerous Dogs Act. He has now been released on police bail.
“This was a very distressing incident for those involved to deal with,” Inspector Bob Champeau, from Staffordshire Police, said.
“Police and ambulance crews attending had to work quickly with those at the farm to bring the dog under control before they were able to treat the two injured people. It's our role now to support those injured and their family whilst we establish the circumstances which led to the dog attacking them.”
The news comes as new sentencing guidelines are being decided for people who breed dogs to be aggressive, or used as weapons.
The sentencing countil has drafted new guidance for courts and now the guidelines are going out to experts and the public for consultation. The maximum sentence to be handed to a person whose dog kills an individual will be increased from two to 14 years.
It’s believed each year over 200,000 are bitten or attacked by dogs in England.
Judge Julian Goose, a member of the Sentencing Council, explained: “Most dog owners are responsible, care for their pets properly and keep them under control but some irresponsible owners put others at risk of injury or death and we want to ensure that the courts have the guidance needed to help them sentence offenders appropriately.
“In drawing up our proposals, we have been very aware of the potentially devastating impact of these offences on victims. Long sentences are available for the most serious offences.”
The consultation closes on 9 June 2015.