**Desperate Neighbours Fend Off Vicious Dog Attack on Young Girl in Merseyside**
A neighbourhood in Kirkby, Merseyside, was left in shock on Thursday evening as a violent dog attack left a young girl and a woman hospitalised, drawing a dramatic response from emergency services and prompting residents to take desperate action to protect one another.
Emergency calls were made shortly before 6pm, alerting police, ambulance crews, and even an air ambulance to the scene at Dulas Green. According to witnesses, the unfolding events saw ordinary members of the public forced to use whatever means they could to subdue a powerful dog reportedly attacking two people.
The primary victim, a seven-year-old girl, is understood to have suffered serious bites to her arm and leg. A 22-year-old woman also sustained puncture wounds to her leg, arm, and hand during the frenzied assault. Both casualties were transported promptly to hospital facilities for assessment and treatment. Fortunately, authorities have stated that neither is in a life-threatening condition.
According to local accounts, the dog’s breed is believed to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Police officers arriving at the scene were able to safely seize the animal and remove it from the neighbourhood, pending further inquiries and potential action.
One anonymous resident, who witnessed the commotion from his garden after returning home from work, described how a routine evening turned harrowing within moments. Recalling the alarming start to events, he detailed how two children were seen fleeing in terror, screaming for help. Although one child managed to escape up his driveway, the other was not so lucky, falling victim to the dog’s aggressive attack.
“By the time I got there, the animal had pulled one girl to the ground,” he told reporters. In a desperate bid to intervene, his wife resorted to hurling bricks at the dog; these, he said, “just bounced off its head”, demonstrating the animal’s frightening strength and determination. Further attempts were made by neighbours using household tools, such as a broom, to distract and control the dog.
At significant personal risk, a second neighbour joined the efforts, reportedly wrestling the dog to the ground even as it turned and attempted to bite him and his own daughters. The group managed to eventually secure the dog in a cage—assembled on the spot—thereby preventing any further injuries but not before several people had already been bitten.
Neighbours have spoken of the ordeal’s lingering impact, with many expressing disbelief that such violence could erupt so suddenly on an average residential street. “You read about these kinds of incidents and never imagine them happening so close to home,” said one shaken resident.
After police arrived, Dulas Green was cordoned off to allow forensic teams to gather evidence and record the aftermath of the attack. Amid the chaos, an air ambulance touched down on a nearby field, testifying to the seriousness with which responders treated the incident. Residents described the area as awash with flashing lights and emergency crews, estimating as many as 15 police vehicles and two ambulances at the height of the response.
Merseyside Police have confirmed that investigations into the circumstances are ongoing, with officers seeking to establish how and why the dog attacked as it did. Community members, meanwhile, are left grappling with the unsettling reality of an ordinary evening turned traumatic—and the courage displayed by those who rushed into harm’s way to protect a child from further harm.
This distressing episode has sparked renewed discussion over dog ownership responsibilities and public safety, highlighting both the unpredictable nature of some animals as well as the importance of community solidarity in times of crisis. Authorities are urging anyone with further information about the incident to come forward as efforts continue to piece together the full sequence of events.