Second boy savaged in Akita dog attack
A second Black Country schoolboy has been savaged by a Japanese Akita dog, in an attack so vicious doctors said it could have killed him.
Billy Ray Thomas, of Brierley House, West Bromwich was attacked by the dog, the pet of a family friend, as he played at their house in Walsall.
He was attacked just over a month ago after trying to feed the dog a piece of cake and needed five-hours of surgery to repair the side of his face after the animal pinned him to the ground and mauled him. He now has no nerves in part of his face and will need plastic surgery.
It comes just days after it was revealed 10-year-old Ryan Bratt, of Tipton, was mauled by an Akita as he played with friends. Billy Ray's dad Frank, 51, has contacted Ryan's father Steve to support his bid to have the animals listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Frank, who lives with Billy Ray and his daughter Cassie said: "We was staying with family friends and had been given a piece of cake.
"He went to give some to the dog, that was in the garden on a lead and it went for him, pinning him to the ground and biting his cheek.
"I was contacted to say he had been badly injured and had been taken to Walsall Manor Hospital.
"I was working away in Worcester at the time and got stuck in traffic. I was called to say it was too late and for a moment I thought we'd lost him."
Billy Ray, aged nine, who attends Birchills Primary School in Walsall, was at that time being transferred as an emergency to Birmingham Children's Hospital, where he had a five-hour operation on his face.
Mr Thomas said: "He was in hospital for a week and off school for four or five weeks. He will be scarred for life and will need surgery as he gets older. The doctors said he could have been killed."
The dog has since been destroyed and although the police were informed, the family are not pressing charges.
