For Rebecca Fisher, the scream will never fade from her memory, because it marked the exact moment her world split in two. It was the sound of her seven-year-old daughter, Mia, crying out in terror from downstairs, a sound that told her instantly something was terribly wrong. In the space of a single minute, an ordinary day inside their home turned into a nightmare that would permanently alter Mia’s childhood.
Rebecca had stepped away briefly to use the bathroom, something she had done countless times before without a second thought. Mia was downstairs with the family dog, Bane, a two-year-old Pocket Bully who had grown up alongside the children and was deeply loved by them. There was no sense of danger, no tension in the room, and no reason to believe that anything out of the ordinary was about to happen.
From upstairs, Rebecca heard Mia call out and replied that she would be back in just a moment. Seconds later, the scream came, sharp and filled with pain, cutting through the house and freezing her in place for a split second before instinct took over. Rebecca ran downstairs to a sight no parent should ever have to witness, finding her daughter covered in blood, shaking and crying in shock.
The dog involved was not a stranger, nor an animal the family feared or kept at a distance. Bane was a dog Mia adored, one she had grown up with, played beside, and trusted completely, which made the attack all the more devastating to comprehend. Rebecca describes what happened as a tragic chain of events rather than an act of malice, believing the dog’s illness that day played a critical role.
According to Rebecca, Bane did what he often did and lay down on Mia, but his weight began to squash her. As Mia tried to push him away, her hand touched his belly, which was painful for him due to his illness, and in that moment he suddenly snapped. The attack happened in seconds, leaving Mia with multiple injuries before anyone could react.
Mia suffered a cut to her hip, and the right side of her face sustained multiple wounds from both the dog’s paws and teeth. One bite went deep into her cheek, causing severe bleeding and damage that would require immediate medical attention. Rebecca recalls her other daughter rushing to help, handing her something to press against the wounds as they tried desperately to stop the bleeding.
Mia was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery the following day to repair the damage to her face. What the family hoped would be the end of the ordeal became only the beginning, as infection developed and Mia required further surgery to reopen the wound and drain an abscess. In just days, the seven-year-old endured two operations, procedures that no child should ever have to face.
The emotional impact of the attack has extended beyond Mia alone. Rebecca says her ten-year-old daughter has struggled deeply since that day, finding it hard to sleep and unable to look at Mia’s injuries without becoming overwhelmed. While Mia herself has shown remarkable resilience, her sister carries a quieter trauma that may take longer to heal.
Despite everything, Rebecca says Mia’s spirit remains intact. She still smiles, still laughs, and still shines in ways that surprise everyone around her. Perhaps most remarkably, the attack has not extinguished her love for dogs, a testament to the strength and innocence that still live within her.
Bane has since been seized by police and is being held in kennels while investigations continue. Mia’s story emerged amid growing concern from South Yorkshire Police, who reported a disturbing series of dog attacks involving children within just a 48-hour period. During that time, three separate incidents left children seriously injured, highlighting a pattern that authorities say cannot be ignored.
In another case, a 16-year-old girl required reconstructive surgery after being mauled by a Cane Corso, while just hours after Mia’s attack, a seven-year-old boy was bitten by a pit bull and suffered puncture wounds. Police say these incidents underline a harsh reality many families struggle to accept, that children are more likely to be bitten at home by a familiar dog than anywhere else. Children under the age of seven are particularly vulnerable because they cannot reliably interpret warning signs in dogs.
Chief Inspector Emma Cheney revealed that in 2024 alone, South Yorkshire Police launched 347 investigations into dangerous dog incidents involving children under 15. She described the demand placed on police by such cases as unprecedented and warned that even loving family pets can become dangerous if boundaries are not respected. Simple changes, she said, such as never leaving children and dogs unattended and ensuring dogs have safe spaces away from children, can be the difference between safety and tragedy.
For Rebecca, these warnings are no longer abstract advice but lived experience. She is focused now on helping Mia heal, both physically and emotionally, while sharing her story in the hope it might prevent another family from enduring the same pain. One minute, she says, was all it took for everything to change.
Mia faces a long road to recovery, marked by healing wounds and emotional processing that cannot be rushed. There will be scars, some visible and others hidden, but her mother remains determined to protect her children and raise awareness about the fragile line between safety and danger. Mia’s story is not just about a dog attack, but about trust, love, and how quickly ordinary moments can become life-altering.
Dominik’s Fight for Life: A Parent’s Plea for Help and Hope.4489
Dominik was born into a world full of love and excitement, but instead of the joy of new life, his parents were faced with an unimaginable battle from the start. Our son, Dominik, was born with cancer—neuroblastoma—a rare and aggressive form of cancer that has already made its mark on his tiny body. Our fight began as soon as he entered the world, and it continues to this day.
When we first held him in our arms, we were filled with all the excitement that comes with welcoming a new baby into the world. But that joy was quickly replaced with fear and uncertainty when we discovered that Dominik’s left leg was paralyzed. We hoped for answers, but the cause was soon revealed: a tumor had invaded his spine, blocking the nerve pathways, and it was also pressing on other organs in his abdomen. The diagnosis was overwhelming, and we were left in shock and fear. We never imagined that we would be fighting for our newborn’s life just moments after his birth.
Instead of bringing him home, putting him in his crib, and watching him grow in the comfort of his own room, Dominik has become far more familiar with hospital walls, operating rooms, and the distinct smells of the pediatric ward. Our son, still so small and innocent, had to learn what it meant to fight for his life far too early. It’s a reality no parent should ever face, but it’s the one we find ourselves living.
In January, Dominik underwent his first surgery, where the doctors removed most of the tumor and worked to unblock the nerve pathways in his spine. However, the surgeons were careful not to remove the entire tumor, as doing so could have led to paralysis from the waist down. While this surgery gave us hope, we knew the battle was far from over. The next stage of treatment—chemotherapy—was necessary to eliminate the remaining tumor or, at the very least, to separate it from the spine to make further surgery possible.
Dominik has already completed his first cycle of chemotherapy, but the effects have been hard on his tiny body. He’s weak, frequently vomiting, and suffering from painful stomach pains as side effects of the chemotherapy. These side effects are heartbreaking for us as parents, knowing there’s nothing we can do to stop the pain our baby is going through. It’s one of the most difficult things we’ve ever had to endure—to watch our child suffer and not be able to take that pain away.
Despite these challenges, we’re determined to continue fighting for Dominik’s life and health. He still can’t move his left foot or toes, and every chemotherapy dose further weakens his body, but we refuse to give up. Each day is filled with uncertainty, but we continue to hold on to the hope that with each treatment, we are one step closer to bringing him home, healthy and whole.
The financial burden of Dominik’s treatment and rehabilitation is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. The costs of chemotherapy, hospital stays, and ongoing therapies are quickly becoming out of reach for us. The road ahead is long and uncertain, and the emotional toll of watching our son endure so much pain while facing these financial challenges is overwhelming. But the one thing that matters to us more than anything is Dominik’s health. We will do whatever it takes to ensure that he has the best chance to fight this cancer and live a long, happy life.
We’re reaching out to you, asking for your help and support. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a difference in Dominik’s fight. Your generosity will help cover the cost of his treatment, ongoing medical needs, and the rehabilitation that will allow him to regain his strength and mobility. It will help us continue this fight for his life and health, ensuring that he receives the care and attention he so desperately needs.
Our fight for Dominik’s life is far from over, but with your support, we believe that we can win this battle. We’re asking for your help to give our son the chance he deserves—the chance to live, to grow, and to experience all the joys of life that every child should. Thank you for standing by us and for giving us the courage to continue fighting.
We know that together, we can make a difference. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us, and we are forever grateful for your support. Please join us in helping Dominik win this fight—his future depends on it.
