ROSS PARRY SYNDICATION: An eight-year-old girl needed 175 stitches to repair these shocking injuries to her face and head when she was mauled by a dog after its owners told her she could stroke it.

Sky Barker was playing out last Thursday evening when she asked the owner of a Japanese Akita if she could pet the animal.

But the dog, which was tied to a wall, leapt forward and grabbed her head in its mouth as she approached it – yet, a week on from the attack, the animal-loving youngster doesn't want the mutt put down.

Her father told how Sky survived as she was able to roll beyond the reach of the animal and the emergency services were called.

She was rushed to hospital for an operation and received 60 stitches to the back of her head, 85 in her face and 30 inside her cheek, which could scar her for life.

Akitas are not listed as dangerous dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act so the police say they cannot force its owners to have it destroyed.