SCALPED BY PET

Boy, six, lucky to survive attack by dog his parents bought online

- LUCY THORNTON

YOUNGSTER Vick Zidko was calmly walking down the stairs when the family dog launched a ferocious attack on him, tearing off part of his scalp.

The pet, which had been bought on Facebook two weeks earlier, leapt on the lad and dragged him down the steps.

Vick, six, screamed in terror as he was viciously scratched and bitten on his head and back.

His sister says a memory that is haunting her is her little brother "pleading with the dog to stop".

The boy's family saved his life by prising open the American Staffordshire terrier's clamped jaws.

As his mother tried to calm him down after the savage attack, Vick asked her: "Mummy am I dying?"

He spent five days in hospital where medics battled to reattach the torn-off piece of scalp.

The boy had more than 50 stitches in his head and face. He also suffered deep cuts to his back.

In the hope of preventing yet more attacks across Britain, Vick's loved ones have decided to speak out to support the Mirror's campaign on dangerous dogs.

NIGHTMARE

His dad Vitalijus said: "It's a nightmare and we never want any other family to go through this."