A two-year-old boy suffered serious facial injuries after being mauled by a dog in the beer garden of The Wulstan pub in Wolstanton, Staffordshire, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The attack occurred at approximately 3:06 pm, prompting an emergency response from West Midlands Ambulance Service and Staffordshire Police.
Witness describes horrific scene
Philip Preece, 63, a regular at the pub, was in the beer garden shortly before the incident. He told reporters that the boy had been playing with plastic dinosaurs and eating chicken nuggets and chips with his mother moments earlier. After going inside to get a drink, Preece returned to find the mother carrying the child, who was covered in blood.
“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 said. He described the dog as “some kind of Bulldog breed” and noted that the animal had not been on a lead before the attack but was leashed afterward by its owner.
Emergency response and hospital treatment
West Midlands Ambulance Service dispatched an ambulance and a paramedic officer to the scene. A spokesperson said: “The boy was given treatment for his serious injuries before being conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency care.” The child has since been discharged from hospital.
Preece added: “If the dog had gone a bit lower, it could have ended up biting the boy's throat. It could have been even more serious.” He described the atmosphere as “hysterical” and expressed shock that the attack happened so quickly after the child had been enjoying a family outing.
Police investigation and appeal for witnesses
Staffordshire Police have launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses. A police spokesperson 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 and we are appealing for anyone with any information that might help our investigation to contact us.”
Witnesses are urged to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 592 of 15 July, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
