Dog seized after girl bitten in Wallasey

We have seized a dog and are appealing for witnesses after reports a seven-year-old girl was bitten by a dog in Wallasey yesterday evening (Monday 17 July).
 
Officers were called to Gorsedale Road park just before 8.30pm following a report that the dog had bitten the child, causing bite marks to her legs and a laceration to her head.
 
The girl was taken to hospital for treatment of her injuries, and has since been discharged.
 
Officers attended and seized the dog – which is not a banned breed. Efforts are ongoing to locate the owner of the dog and a number of witnesses have been spoken to.
 
We are appealing for further witnesses to come forward and for anyone with footage that may assist enquiries to contact police.
 
Detective Inspector Emma Kerrigan said: "This was a horrific attack which has left a young girl receiving hospital treatment for injuries to her head and legs. 
 
“I want to reassure people that she received the best possible care and treatment for her injuries, and we hope she makes a speedy recovery now she is home.
 
"We have seized the dog and extensive efforts are underway to establish exactly what happened and to find the owner. 
 
“I want to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident, who may have information which could help us with our investigation to come forward as soon as possible. You may even live locally and have CCTV, or have been passing in a vehicle and captured dashcam footage – if so, we want to hear from you.
 
"This case highlights in the starkest terms the potential dangers of dogs, and I would appeal to anyone with information about dangerous dogs in their area to contact us so that we can take pro-active action."
 
House-to-house enquiries have been carried out in the area and all CCTV opportunities are being explored.
 
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police Contact Centre. You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 23000646249 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.