A FIVE-year-old boy who was savaged by an American bulldog last year – and needed 200 stitches in his face and four hours of surgery – is marking his recovery with a new pet dog. George Brown, then aged four and living in Huntingdon, was attacked when he

A FIVE-year-old boy who was savaged by an American bulldog last year - and needed 200 stitches in his face and four hours of surgery - is marking his recovery with a new pet dog.

George Brown, then aged four and living in Huntingdon, was attacked when he was out playing in Norfolk Road near his home.

He was playing with other children, including his older sister Sami, then five. The dog - which had attacked children before, including George, seized him by the face.

The animal was later destroyed and the woman in charge of it at the time was sentenced to nine months in prison. The dog's owner received a community sentence.

George's parents had been concerned he would grow up afraid of dogs, but more than a year-on from the attack and Christie has joined the Brown family at their new home in Offord.

His mother, Danielle Brown, said in the days after the attack, as George was recovering, she did not want him and his two sisters to grow up afraid of dogs.

However, when she suggested to George that they get a dog, his first, cautious reply had been: "Not a big dog".

Yesterday (Tuesday), George cuddled Christie, the family's three-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which the family took charge of two weeks ago.

Mrs Brown, 27, told The Hunts Post: "I researched the best breed to have around children and I contacted the Cavalier Society.

"The dog was donated to us by a lady from Boston. Christie's owner was visiting St Neots for a dog show two weeks ago and she handed her over to us. It is fantastic. George adores the dog, we all do."

Mrs Brown said she had not owned a dog before and would never have thought about having one, if it hadn't been for the attack. "No way would we have had one but we thought this has got to be the next move.

"George's little sister Libby will be two on Friday. She and the dog are inseparable at the moment. They all love Christie - we couldn't part with her now."

The American bulldog which attacked George in August had been rehomed from Wood Green Animal Shelters and placed with a family who lived near the Browns.

A month after the attack, George was recovered enough physically to be a page boy at the September wedding of his parents, Danielle and Sam.

However, he has continued to have counselling. His mother said his final session with a private psychiatrist was on Thursday. The sessions had been arranged free of charge by Wood Green.

She said: "He rarely has nightmares now - unless he sees the same type of dog that attacked him in the street. We saw one on Saturday and he did have a bad dream but he has made a fantastic recovery.

"He was made character of the year at school for being a kind person.