A man has been arrested after a nine-year-old girl was mauled by an XL Bully and left with life-changing injuries.
Eva Mangenje was left with 'deep puncture wounds' after the vicious dog attack in Springthorpe Green in Birmingham's Edrington area on November 16 last year.
A 33-year-old man has now been arrested in connection with the attack - six months after it happened - but has been released on bail without charge.
Eva screamed in terror as the dog launched at her, sinking its teeth into her left leg and arm.
She had been walking home from the shop with her mother Alicia who watched on in horror as the animal 'ran towards' her daughter and began 'mauling her leg'.
She was later rushed to hospital with severe wounds from the attack and spent 11 days and needed two surgeries.
Alicia told BirminghamLive: 'My daughter suffered life‑changing injuries.
'It came for Eva and showed no interest in me or the people trying to get it off her. It was horrendous.
Eva Mangenje, nine, was left with life changing injuries after an XL Bully mauled her leg and arm in a horrendous attack on the walk home from the shop with her mother in Birmingham
It took two men 'hitting it with everything' to get the dog off. XL Bullies were outlawed in the UK in December 2023. They must be muzzled in public and not sold or bred. Owners need an exemption certificate (file photo)
'Eva was taken by ambulance to Birmingham Children's Hospital, where she underwent two surgeries and spent 11 days as an inpatient.'
Eva's older sister was alerted and ran from home, hearing her little sister's screams.
She dialed 999 after seeing the terrible, bloody scene as two men had managed to free Eva from the beast's jaws by 'hitting it with everything'.
Another neighbour brought towels to staunch Eva's bleeding while they waited for paramedics to arrive.
Eva's screams of 'I'm going to die' will haunt her mother Alicia forever, she said.
Both mother and daughter are traumatised by the ferocious attack. On top of their troubles, frustration over the police investigation has plagued the family due to a lack of progress.
Alicia said: 'I am deeply unhappy and distressed by the lack of action and accountability in this case.'
It took six months for the 33-year-old man to be arrested and released on bail without charge by West Midlands Police. They continue to investigate.
The force said: 'A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being the owner or person in charge allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control.
'He has since been bailed as our investigation continues.
'We're continuing to update the family as our enquiries continue.
'We would ask anyone with any information that could help our investigating officers, or who may not have spoken to us yet, to get in touch by calling 101 and quoting crime reference number 20/445485/25.'
XL Bullies were outlawed in December 2023, making it illegal to breed, sell or have the dogs unmuzzled in public and owners now need a registered exemption certificate to own them.