Barnsley dog attack: Pet destroyed after biting girl at home

The incident happened in Darfield, Barnsley, on Thursday afternoon

A teenage girl was left injured after the family dog bit her on the leg in an attack at home, police said.

The 17-year-old was taken to hospital with deep wounds following the incident in Darfield, Barnsley, on Thursday.

The dog, a Staffordshire bull terrier, was signed over to South Yorkshire Police and euthanised, the force said.

"It's a stark reminder that all dogs, no matter how long they have been part of your family, can attack," PC Paul Jameson said.

The dog bit the girl after she went to answer the front door, police said.

'All dogs can be aggressive'

Officers were called shortly before 13:00 BST and the animal was seized.

"As inquiries at the home with parents continued, it was also reported this is not the first time the dog has bitten someone," a force spokesperson said.

PC Jameson added: "All dogs can be aggressive; they are animals, but some dogs have greater capability to cause harm due to their size and strength and characteristics.

"We always urge parents to never leave children unsupervised with dogs, but in this case, the victim is nearly an adult and did not provoke the dog in any way."