Dog Attacks 2-Year-Old, Bites Face While Petting, Girl Nearly Blinded

In a horrific incident, a 2-year-old girl was nearly blinded after she was attacked by a dog when she tried to pet the animal. According to local reports, the incident took place Saturday in Scunthorpe in the United Kingdom.

The girl was standing near the dog as she and her family prepared to leave The Winterton Agricultural Show, the U.K.'s the Mirror reported. The dog lunged at her when the child bent forward to stroke the animal and bit her face. Witnesses at the scene said the girl's face started bleeding and deep wounds were seen on her cheek and nose. Local media said the dog was a Japanese Akita.

The girl was rushed to hospital where she underwent five hours of emergency treatment and bandaging.

"I figured the dog would be friendly with it being at a show full of kids and surrounded by a lot of people, so I said Isla could stroke it," the child's mother Megan Lester said. "She was only a few yards away from me... Isla is very good with dogs - we have a large Labrador, so she knows what to do and what not do."

Lester said her daughter stroked the dog on the side of its head but it opened its jaws and bit her.

"It was obviously extremely terrifying. The dog bit Isla and she was instantly bleeding," she said. "I panicked and tried to get her medical attention as soon as possible."

Isla’s dad Danny Williams said she was "lucky to get away with minor injuries... It would be good to use this to raise awareness on how dangerous some dogs can be, especially to children."