A CONCERNED mum is calling for the law to be changed after her young daughter was savaged by a rottweiler.

Six-year-old Alicia Duff and her mum Lisa are now waiting for the wounds to heal before hearing from surgeons about possible plastic surgery to the youngster's severely injured arm.

The frightened child, who attends St Joseph's First School in Ombersley Way, Droitwich, was rushed to the accident and emergency department of Worcestershire Royal Hospital after the dog bit her arm on Sunday, September 17.

According to her mum, Alicia had been told that the dog was safe to stroke before it lashed out. The incident happened when she went to a nearby house to call for another youngster of the same age.

The Duff family, who live in Colford Close, in the Chawson area of town, are angry and disappointed with the law that surrounds such attacks after learning that the dog will not be put down following the incident.

Alicia's mother Lisa decided she should speak out after seeing the story of five month-old Cadey-Lee Deacon, who was killed by rottweilers in Leicester only a few weeks ago The owner of the dog that attacked Alicia lives near to where the Duff family live. Because it has not been put down it means the dog is still in the house and close to where the frightened youngster lives and plays.

Lisa said: "Alicia was told the dog was safe before it happened. My sister rushed her to hospital, but they could not sow up the wound because they were scared it might have become infected.

"We have been told that the scarring will be bad, but they that will try to help after it has healed.

"Police have said that nothing can be done about it because the dog was on private property.

"I am disappointed that a six-year-old can't be protected. The law should be changed to fit in with cases like this. A dog does not know if it is on private or public property."

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which can see an owner facing imprisonment and the dog taken away, only applies if the dog is in a public place and out of control.

A spokesman for Droitwich police said: "This incident was thoroughly investigated, but no criminal offences were identified."

The owner of the dog could not be contacted at the time of going to press.