The child was bitten on the head by the large dog as he played in the garden of the Crows Nest Inn (Image: Facebook)
A young boy was brutally injured after he was mauled by a large dog in a pub beer garden when he was playing in the garden of the Crows Nest Inn in Swanage, Dorset. Paul Ciardini, seven, was bitten on the head on May 2 at about 5.10pm.
His mother Wiktoria Matusiak, 29, claimed that he was walking towards the children’s play area in the garden when he was set upon by the pet, possibly a German Wirehaired Pointer.
The schoolboy was bitten on top of his head and the 2 inch long wound was so deep his skull was exposed and required surgery.
A week after the incident, the family of the seven-year-old boy shared pictures of his horrific injuries after blasting the animal’s owners for not handing themselves in.
The 29-year-old said a couple believed to be the owners ignored calls from customers to stay put until the police arrived and swiftly left with the pet, reported MailOnline.
Police are looking to speak to two people following the attack (Image: Dorset police)
She said it was unforgivable that days after the attack the man and woman, aged in their late 40s or early 50s, had still not come forward.
Ms Matusiak said: “I can understand that they could have been in shock at seeing what had happened and that could be why they did what they did.
“But you would have thought that days afterwards it would have sunk in and coming forward to see if my son is OK is absolutely wrong.
“When we got to the hospital the doctors didn’t have the information such as what breed of dog it was and whether it was vaccinated – information that could have assisted them.
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“They need to come forward because I don’t want another child to be attacked by this dog.”
Ms Matusiak picked her child up and rushed him inside while an ambulance was summoned after the incident.
The boy was then airlifted to hospital.
Ms Matusiak, who works as bar staff at the pub had popped in with her son briefly to speak to her boss when Paul went off towards the play area outside.
She has been told by customers that although the dog had a lead on it was not being held at the time.
The incident took place in Crows Nest Inn in Swanage, Dorset. (Image: Google streetview)
She said: “He went to the kids play area while I was talking to my boss. Then I heard a scream and I saw him covered in blood on the grass screaming.
“The woman was holding him and the man was with the dog. I just grabbed my son and ran inside and asked people to call an ambulance.
“I could see just how deep the wound to his head was. We went into the kitchen to try and stem the blood and my boss rang the police.
“She went outside and customers told her they told the couple to stay there but they just walked away. There was a lot going on at the time and nobody really saw them leave.”
Paul has reportedly suffered bruising and bite marks to his back and side.
He underwent an operation under general anaesthetic to treat the head wound and he remained in Poole Hospital for two nights.
Dorset Police have issued a photo of the man and woman restraining their dog moments after the attack.
The man has short cropped grey hair and was wearing black-rimmed glasses at the time.
The woman has shoulder-length brown hair and was wearing a dark blue or black jacket and blue and white shorts at the time.
The dog is believed to be either a German wirehaired pointer or an Italian spinone breed. It has brown and white shaggy fur.
A spokesman for Dorset Police said that there was ‘no further update at this time and our enquiries remain ongoing’.
PC Alistair James, of Purbeck Police, said: “This was understandably a distressing incident for the young boy involved and his family and we hope he makes a full recovery from his injury.
“We are conducting enquiries into this matter and have obtained an image of a man and woman with the dog that was believed to be involved.
“We are keen to speak to these people so we can take their account of what happened. I would urge anyone with information relating to their identity to please come forward. I would also ask the man and woman pictured to please do the right thing and come forward.
“I would also like to hear from any witnesses to the incident who have not already spoken to police.”
