There can be no doubt that eight-year-old Annie McFadden is lucky to be alive after she was viciously mauled by a pit-bull type dog near her north Belfast home more than three weeks ago.
The child is now recovering but she needed 80 stitches to her head and body and doctors said that a wound to her chest was just 2cms from piercing her heart.
It cannot be acceptable that, as we report today, the whereabouts of the dangerous animal remain unknown and no information has yet been provided about the action to be taken against its owner by the authorities.
Belfast City Council has said that the case remains a priority for its dog warden team so there will be a firm expectation that a full update on the investigation will be provided without further delay.
