Totton 2-year-old permanently scarred in dog attack

Evie Smith-Tope was left with severe injuries after the dog "bit right through her cheek".

Now, in a first interview, her mum Rachell Smith has revealed the physical and psychological toll the incident, which happened in July, had on her daughter.

Rachell says Evie required treatment at hospital for her injuries, where she had surgery to repair her cheek.

“She had her face stitched back together,” the 29-year-old said.

“Her whole cheek was hanging off, because the dog bit right through her cheek.

“She’s lucky to have her eyesight, the bite went straight through her cheek and got really close to her eyes.”

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Evie was not provoking the dog when it bit the two-year-old, Rachell says, though she says that the bite “would not have been acceptable” regardless.

The dog involved in the incident was seized and remains in kennels at this time, Hampshire Constabulary confirmed.

Rachell says her daughter is now “completely different” after recovering from the injuries.

“She used to be happy and playful, she was so chatty to strangers,” Rachell said.

“Now she’s very clingy and it’s a struggle to get her to go and play by herself.

“She won’t leave my side sometimes and she always wants me to follow her, it’s so different.”

Rachell says Evie required treatment at hospital for her injuries, where she had surgery to repair her cheek. (Image: Rachell Smith) Rachell also has a son, who she preferred not to name, who “definitely felt the impact” of the chaos around the situation – though she did admit that it is “calming down” for him at school now.

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The mother said: “[This incident] has completely changed our lives.

“You don’t wake up in the morning thinking it could ever happen to you or your family, you could not imagine it.”

A 33-year-old woman from Totton was interviewed under caution in connection with the incident, according to police.

She has since been released under investigation, pending further enquiries.

The dog involved was a medium-sized dog and no other witnesses are being sought by police at this time.