THREE-year-old Ryan Wickham is learning to love the family border collie again five months after a friend's dog ripped his face, making him terrified of all dogs.

Mother-of-three Alona Wickham has defended her decision to keep the family pet after her son was savagely attacked by another dog.

Ryan had to have more than 120 stitches and a two-hour operation after a friend's dog made a brutal and unprovoked attack on him last Christmas.

Mrs Wickham, 33, from Neelds Close, Yatton Keynell, was visiting a friend in Ashe Crescent, Chippenham, on December 21 last year when the attack happened.

She left her son playing in the house and went to meet her friend in Chippenham town centre. Ryan was being looked after by her friend's 16-year-old niece.

"I got a phone call saying he had cut himself and I just thought 'these things happen'. But she was panicking on the phone so I rushed back to the house. When I got there, the skin was hanging off his face and the back of his head was bleeding," said Mrs Wickham.

Ryan was rushed to hospital in an ambulance and spent two-and-a-half hours in surgery.

"His ear had to be sewn back on and he was lucky not to lose his eyesight. It was horrible," said his mother.

The case was taken to court last month and the owner was charged with having a dangerous dog and ordered to put the West Highland-Labrador cross down. Police said the boy had more than 100 bite marks to his head.

"We got justice. But I don't talk to my friend anymore. We are now trying to get compensation for Ryan's injuries," said Mrs Wickham.

"Ryan didn't do anything. He simply picked up the dog's ball when it landed at his ankle and the dog leapt on him."

The attack happened days before Christmas and the family spent the festive season in a state of shock.

"It was not a pretty sight and we couldn't take any pictures of Ryan because he had two black eyes," said Mrs Wickham.

Five months after the attack, Ryan's face is scarred, he is still having hospital checks and may have to have a skin graft on his cheek.

But despite the horrific attack Ryan's mother decided to keep the family dog, Oscar.

"At first I thought we would have to get rid of him but as the weeks went past it got easier. We decided to see how Ryan coped with it and what he wanted," said Mrs Wickham.

Ryan would not go near Oscar at first but as time went by he learned to trust him again.

"He now plays with him and strokes him all the time. He does blame Oscar for things he hasn't done and the dog goes through hell at times, but it is getting easier," said Mrs Wickham.

She said many people asked her why they kept the family dog after what happened but she has stood her ground.

"I want Ryan to be wary of dogs but not frightened of them," she said.

"You read all these stories about victims of dog attacks being scarred for life and not being able to go near dogs but I know it does get easier.

"Ryan is scared of some dogs and it has been very stressful for him but now he is also able to approach other dogs on his own accord.

"I don't want him to be terrified for the rest of his life."

But she admits it will be a long time before Ryan fully overcomes his ordeal.

"He was kicked out of nursery school for bad behaviour but he has been through a lot and he is not badly behaved," she said.

"He is now at King's Lodge, in Kington St Michael, and they know how to deal with him. We just take each day as it comes."

She added that Ryan's brother and sister Alex, aged ten, and Tania, 11, were shocked by the attack but have not let it affect their relationships with dogs.

lcanter@newswilts.co.uk