PRESSURE is mounting on a dog owner to have his pet put down after it bit his daughter’s friend.

Nine-year-old Parys Smith, of Osborne Close, Elmers End, needed a skin graft to repair her leg after she was bitten by the Staffordshire bull terrier and she was not discharged from hospital until Monday, four days after the attack.

News Shopper: Parys Smith's leg has been bandaged following her operation

But because the incident happened on private property, in her friend’s kitchen, and the dog is not an illegal breed, police cannot take any criminal action against its owner Craig Hudson.

Parys’ father Martin Smith has asked Mr Hudson to put his dog, Keane, down.

Daughter scarred for life

The father-of-six said: “The dog should not be on this planet.

“It has scarred my daughter for life.

“She says all she can keep seeing is the dog and she says she wants the dog to be put down.”

News Shopper: Martin Smith with his daughter Parys

The 50-year-old added: “Obviously there is a loophole in the law because if my daughter had been on the pathway they could have taken the dog away.

“Nothing is being done and it is like we are the victims here and we are going to stay the victims.

“I feel really angry the police could not do anything at the time.

“This crime has been committed but nothing has been done about it.”

Mr Smith, who owns two English bull mastiffs, added: “I wanted to go over there and cause havoc but I restrained myself.

“I have never committed a crime in my life but where is my frustration going to end?”

Neighbours petitioning to have dog put down

Residents in the road where both families live have launched a petition to put pressure on Mr Hudson to put Keane down.

One mother who signed the petition, Paula Clark, 43, said: “We have all got children and they all play down here.

“If that dog did happen to get out it does not bear thinking about.

“He’s done it once and I cannot see why he would not do it again.”

News Shopper: Parys Smith needed to have a skin graft after she was bitten on the leg by her friend's dog

Mr Hudson says the incident happened after he, his daughter Jamiee and Parys had played with Keane in the park and Parys had walked the dog home.

He says he usually keeps Keane locked away when Parys and Jamiee, eight, are playing together but they had begged him to let them take him to the park.

Dog is 'one of the family'

Mr Hudson said: “We are all devastated about what has happened and we hope Parys makes a speedy recovery.

“We have been thinking about putting Keane down but he’s one of the family.”

The 38-year-old added: “I have three kids, three little girls and he’s my little boy. He sleeps in the bed with me.”

“I can understand people are very concerned about the dog but normally we do not let him out.

“We have not brought him up to be aggressive.

“It was just an unfortunate accident which we are all devastated about.”

A Bromley police spokesman said: “A dog bite in a house where the dog lives is not covered by the criminal law.

“It is, however, important to remember victims can seek redress through the civil courts.”