This article is from page 1 of the 2012-04-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
THE mother of a Clare toddler who had feared that her daughter would die in her arms following a brutal dog attack, was last night relieved that her three-year-old was sitting up and entertaining nursing staff.
Little Abbey O’Donoghue from Ballynacally received 60 stitches to her head, arms and under her ear after the canine attacked her at a family birthday party on Saturday afternoon.
Her worried father Cathal said it was a sight he will never forget and will haunt him and his family for years to come.
Cathal and his wife Caroline, along with their children Jonathan (6), Kelsey (5), Abbey (3), Jake (2) and baby Ruby, aged five months, had visited his sister’s home that day to give his niece a card for her 21st birthday.
The children had decided to go outside to the garage with their cousin to get some crisps, but as little Abbey was leaving the house, the family Siberian husky ‘Red’ unexpectedly pounced on her.
“She was just outside the door and we heard the screaming of her cousin.
“Abbey was also screaming and telling the dog to stop biting her. My brother-in-law ran out past me and jumped on the dog.