A SCHOOLBOY is nursing a broken nose after being headbutted in the street by a dog.

Now his father is backing government plans to amend the Dangerous Dogs Act to make all dog owners take out third party insurance.

Jake Almeida, 13, was on his way to pick his younger brother from school when the dog launched itself from the open front door of a house.

But his father Fernando, 39, of Radfield Way, Sidcup, said the dog should never have been out in the street uncontrolled.

He explained: “We were on our way to Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School in Blackfen, to pick up my younger son.

“I could not find anywhere to park, so Jake got out of the car with our Staffordshire bull terrier puppy Roxy, and began walking, while I found somewhere to park.”

Mr Almeida says in Holbeach Gardens, a large dog came hurtling out of the front door of a house in the street and leapt onto Roxy.

The owner and Jake struggled to pull the dog off Roxy’s back, when suddenly it lunged upwards, battering Jake in the face with its head.

Mr Almeida said the owner smacked his dog and dragged it back into the house.

When he challenged the owner about the injury to his son, Mr Almeida said the owner had replied it had been an accident and was “just one of those things".

"I told him he should have kept his dog under control and not left his door open.

“Roxy has bite marks on her back and scratches on her belly but luckily they are only superficial.”

Mr Almeida reported the incident to the police, but a Bexley police spokeswoman told News Shopper they would not be investigating.

She added: “If there are ongoing concerns or the victim's father has information that the dog is out of control, we would suggest he gives his local safer neighbourhoods policing team a call to discuss it further.

“The team may be able to give some words of advice to the owner.”

Mr Almeida said: “I would rather have third party insurance than vet’s insurance and I also think dog licences should be brought back.”