When Amber Hoole was savaged by a dog, her mother Astrid expected the pet to be put down.

Here was a dangerous animal which had caused terrible injuries and could attack again.

But nothing, it seems, is ever that simple in law.

In order to obtain the destruction order, Mrs Hoole was told she would have to give evidence in court against Florian's owner. In this case, that was her own father.

While she was desperate to ensure the terrier could do no more harm, she was not prepared to take the witness stand.

So the case collapsed and Florian escaped a death penalty.

Her story highlights one of a string of loopholes in the law relating to dangerous dogs.

Thankfully, surgeons have worked their magic on Amber's face and one day may have removed all trace of the scars.

But the damage caused to her family by this cannot repaired.