A teenage girl may be left with permanent tendon damage after her hand was ripped open by a vicious dog while she was visiting a friend's house.
Cara Marshall, 17, was at her pal's home in Kirkcaldy when the family's Staffordshire Bull Terrier Pitbull cross escaped out the front door and mauled the youngster in the garden on Sunday, November 20.
The dog sank its teeth into Cara and shredded her hand during the frenzied attack. It is understood three people desperately tried to free the teenager from the dog's jaws before they managed to overpower the animal and drag it away.
The traumatised teen was taken to Victoria Hospital and will now undergo surgery to repair the tendons in her left hand.
Doctors have warned Cara's family she may require plastic surgery if the damage is found to be extensive.
Mum Kayleigh, 35, says her daughter has been left terrified following the attack.
She told the Record: "Cara had gone to her friend's house and it was the family dog that attacked her.
"The door was already open when Cara arrived and the dog's got out and just went for her.
"It took three people to get the dog off. She was terrified.
"Cara is getting surgery to repair the tendons in her hand but the surgeons have said if they find out the damage is bad during surgery she may need to get plastic surgery. There could also be long-term damage.
"She doesn't like dogs at the best of times and this has traumatised her."
Kayleigh previously owned the same breed of dog but decided to give the pet away as it was too strong for her.
Police are currently investigating the incident and have reported it to the local authority's dog warden. It is understood the dog has been removed from the property and taken to a relative's home.
"These are really big dogs and if that had been a toddler and not Cara, they would not have survived that," Kayleigh added.
"The dog needs to be taken away and assessed, it cannot remain on the street."
Fife Council's safer communities team manager Paul Coleman confirmed the council was aware of an incident with a Staffordshire bull terrier in Kirkcaldy at the weekend.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a 17-year-old female having been bitten by a dog at a property in Kirkcaldy shortly before 7pm on Sunday, 20 November.
“The female was treated at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service and the local authority’s dog warden has been made aware.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
The SSPCA said they were not aware of the incident or concerns raised previously.
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