Alicia Isaura was walking home with her nine year old daughter, Eva, from a shop in Erdington when the child was attacked by an XL Bully-type dog in an unprovoked incident. The attack occurred on Sunday, 16 November, at the junction of Springthorpe Green and Spiral Green in Pype Hayes.
According to reports, two loose dogs approached the pair. One crossed the road and lunged at Eva as she tried to run, biting her left leg and locking its jaw onto her limb. Two men jumped from a car in a desperate attempt to free her. The dogs were not on leads and their owner was not present at the scene.
Alicia told BirminghamLive: “I was with her and we were walking together back from the shop. We are big dog people and I saw the two dogs there and I said to Eva, ‘don’t cross the road’. But one dog came across and Eva started to run. It went for her leg. She was crying and screaming and then started to shiver as she went into shock. Once these dogs have locked their jaws you cannot get them off. It then let go of her leg and went for her arm. It showed no interest in me or the people trying to get it off her. It was horrendous.”
Eva also suffered a small scratch to her head when someone attempted to kick the dog off her. Alicia accidentally called her older daughter, Nyema, fourteen, who heard the screams, rushed out, and dialled 999. Two men eventually freed Eva by hitting the dog repeatedly.
Ambulance crews and police attended the scene, and Eva was taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a patient bitten by a dog at 6.42pm on Sunday. One ambulance attended the scene. On arrival we discovered a girl who was treated for potentially serious injuries before being taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”
Eva underwent surgery on Monday, 17 November, to close the wound but will require further operations and physiotherapy. Her mother said she could not feel parts of her leg and described the injuries as severe.
Eva’s father, Taurai Mangenje, expressed concern for other children in the area, noting that the dogs remain at large. He said a nurse at the hospital reported three other similar attacks that night, though locations were not confirmed. He said: “Eva’s injuries were horrific. These dogs are not meant to be on the street. It ripped her left leg up to her thigh. I am very worried. I do not know if the police have the dogs. I am really, really petrified that other families will go through what we went through.”
West Midlands Police confirmed they are investigating. A spokesperson said: “We were called shortly before 7pm on Sunday after a child was bitten by a dog in Erdington. The girl was taken to hospital for treatment. Enquiries are ongoing to find the dog and its owner. Anyone with information can call 101 quoting log 3474 of 16 November.”
