A two-year-old boy was mauled by a dog at a pub in Staffordshire, leaving him with serious facial injuries. The attack occurred in the beer garden of The Wulstan in Wolstanton at around 3pm on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Attack Details
Witnesses reported that the child was playing with plastic dinosaurs and eating chicken nuggets with his mother when the dog attacked. Philip Preece, a 63-year-old regular at the pub, described the scene: "He was in an absolute mess. You couldn't make out any of his facial features. He was covered in blood. His mum was too. So much was gushing out."
Preece believed the dog was "some kind of Bulldog breed." He noted that the dog had not been on a lead earlier but was quickly leashed after the attack. "The dog ragged him up and down after biting his face. If the dog had gone a bit lower, it could have ended up biting the boy's throat," he added.
Emergency Response
Guests at the pub were described as "hysterical" as a man called 999. The child was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency care. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed: "The boy was given treatment for his serious injuries before being conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital."
Staffordshire Police stated that the child has since been discharged from hospital. The force is investigating the incident and appealing for witnesses.
Police Investigation
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "We were called to The Wulstan following reports that a child had been bitten by a dog. Officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service. The child was taken to hospital with facial injuries. He has since been discharged. Our investigation is ongoing."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 592 of 15 July, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
