SHOCKING photos show the injuries of a young girl who was mauled by a dog outside a Nisa store.

Farrah-Leigh Nichol, five, had gone to stroke the Pocket Bully after asking permission from the owner.

But as the schoolgirl gently patted the animal's head it pounced – biting a huge chunk out of her left cheek.

Her father Alex Nichol, 30, kicked the Bully away and scooped his daughter up before she was rushed to hospital where she is being treated for serious facial injuries.

Alex, who lives close to where the attack happened outside a branch of Nisa on Norton Rd, Stockton-on-Tees, said: "We had gone to the shop together and she had paid for some bread at the till.

"We came out and I pressed the button to cross the road and she said, 'Can I stroke that dog?'

"I said, 'Yes, but you will have to ask the man first.' She said, 'Can I stroke your dog?' And he said, 'Yes, no problem.'

"She went to stroke the dog on the head. She loves dogs. She was stroking it really gently.

"The dog jumped and she jumped back and I thought, that was lucky. But then the next minute I saw her curled up on the floor and she said, 'Dad'.

"She was crying and all her face was off. Her face was gone. It was just gruesome."

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Alex rushed over to his daughter who was still in dangerously close proximity to the animal.

He added: "I ran across to get her but the dog was right behind her. I booted it. I stamped on it.

"I picked my daughter up and went back to the house. She was taken to hospital and she is stable and she has had stitches. But there's still so much to do."

It is understood the Pocket Bully, which is a cross between an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Patterdale Terrier, has now been destroyed.

It lived just down the road from the home Farrah-Leigh shares with her dad and mum, Danielle Kemp, 32.

In the wake of a spate of recent dog attacks on children, Alex now believes all breeds should be muzzled.

He said: "We have three dogs ourselves. We have a Staffie and two XL Bullies. But I would be happy to muzzle them.

"If all dogs were muzzled it would just take away the risk. If it saved just one child it would be worth it.

"Always be wary of dogs you don't know. My daughter loved dogs, but this incident has obviously given her a full fear factor.

"We're all still in shock at the moment. We can't believe this has happened."

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to send Farrah-Leigh to Disney Land with her family once she is well enough.

Shauna Lee Rollinson, 26, who created the page, said: "Farrah-Leigh is in my little girl's class at school.

"She tells my daughter all the time how she'd love to go to Disney Land.

"If we can make this happen for this gorgeous girl I will cry my eyes out.

"The support so far has been outstanding."

Following the attack yesterday evening a spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: "The girl has suffered significant injuries to her face and is receiving treatment in hospital.

"The owner of the dog remained at the scene following the attack and co-operated with police. The dog has been seized.

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"We would politely ask people not to post photos relating to the incident and to avoid speculating on social media whilst officers continue with their investigation."

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