12 hours ago
Woman is charged after toddler's arm ripped open in dog attack outside primary school
A woman has been charged after a toddler's arm was ripped open by a dog which attacked her outside of a primary school.
Bunnie, three, was walking home with her father and two siblings last Tuesday when the Cockapoo attacked her outside Miers Court Primary School in Rainham, Kent, at around 3.30pm.
Her father Rowen Skinley told KentOnline he had to to hold the skin on her arm together with his hands before people nearby rushed to help.
Bunnie was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital in nearby Gillingham before being transferred to St Thomas' Hospital in Westminster, London, the following morning.
There, she had several X-rays to ensure the puncture had not hit her bone, before undergoing the reconstructive surgery.
Mr Skinley explained: 'She also has a lung condition and really bad asthma so she had to be marked down as a high-risk category for sedation.'
Police launched an investigation and have now announced they made an arrest yesterday in connection with the incident.
Officers also seized a dog, believed to be a Cockapoo.
Tracie Inkpen, 50, from Gillingham, was charged the same day with being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.
She was later bailed and will appear before Medway Magistrates' Court at a later date.
Mr Skinley last week said his daughter is 'doing well now', adding: 'She's just a bit shaken and keeps talking about how scared she is of the dog.'
Speaking about the attack, he said: 'It happened parallel to the school on the main road. I was just walking home after the school run.
'The path is quite narrow and a woman was walking her dog on the actual road itself.
'Then, out of nowhere, the dog just lunged for my daughter and pulled her to the floor.'
Bystanders rushed over to help: 'People who saw what happened came over and said that my daughter hadn't even put her hand out to the dog.'
