Boy is hurt in attack by family dog

A six-year-old boy was bitten on the back of the head by the family dog in Cheslyn Hay. Harry Rutter went to hospital after being attacked by a Japanese Akita dog.

It happened at his High Street home at around 8.15pm last night.

Neighbours expressed their shock at the dog's attack saying it was completely out of the blue and out of the dog's character.

Harry lives with Niamh, his sister who is a couple of years older than him, his mother Emma Rutter and her boyfriend Adam Stubbs. They are at Walsall Manor Hospital with him.

Mary Farr, aged 40, who has known the family for six years and owns the dog's pup, heard screaming next door but thought it was the two children playfighting.

It was not until the ambulance pulled up on the drive that she realised something was wrong.

She said: "It's a big shock and Emma's a good friend.

"When we spoke to Adam he was in shock and couldn't believe the dog went for Harry. He said the cut was five centimetres long and the paramedics had told him he would need stitches. Then he knocked on the door later and said they were rushing him into surgery."

Sian Farr, aged 14, said she saw Harry as he was put in the ambulance. The Cheslyn Hay High School pupil said: "He was so still I think it was probably shock. I felt so sorry for them."

It is believed the dog has been taken to Harry's grandparents.