Dog brutally bites boy, 12, at popular park before fleeing as cops launch urgent hunt for the pooch and its owners

COPS have launched an urgent hunt for a dog and its owners after the pooch brutally bit a 12-year-old-boy at a popular park.

The young lad was attacked by the animal at Apedale Country Park, North Staffordshire at 3pm on April 20.

Staffordshire police have today released a picture of the dog in a bid to locate its owners.

The force have also appealed to the public to come forward with any information that might help in their search.

Cops said: “The dog bit a 12-year-old boy at Apedale Country Park.

“The boy sustained the injury while out riding his bike and reported what happened to police.

“The owners of the dog, a man and a woman, made off from the scene with the animal prior to our arrival.

“A witness managed to get a photo of the dog following the incident.”

This comes just days after an 11-year-old schoolgirl had her arm ripped open in a horror Bully dog attack.

Maisie Wallace, 11, was left scarred for life after the savage attack which took place at a pal’s house in Dundee during the Easter holidays.

The powerful two-year-old dog is understood to have escaped from a locked room and pounced on Maisie.

It sank its teeth into her arm and ripped it open.

Police Scotland confirmed a probe into the attack is ongoing but mum Lauren is furious the dog has not been seized by authorities.

She said: “Any dog that can do that to a child should be banned, it doesn’t matter what kind of breed it is.

“It has a powerful jaw like an XL bully and can inflict the same amount of damage. The owner had to wrestle it off of my daughter.

“It is not under control and could hurt another child.”

Lauren, 45, rushed her terrified daughter to Ninewells Hospital after receiving a frantic phone call.

Lauren, a district nurse, told the Record she found her daughter soaked in blood with a makeshift bandage holding the gaping wound together.