A DOG which bit a child’s face has earned a stay of execution while experts consider his fate.

Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier Buster lives but his life hangs in the balance after the case deciding whether or not he will be put down was adjourned at Worcester Magistrates Court today.

At the original hearing district judge Nigel Cadbury said unless the family could prove Buster was not dangerous he would be destroyed. Buster remains in kennels after he was seized by police while his family fights to save his life.

His owner, Michael Nash, aged 67,of Pound Bank Road, Malvern has already admitted being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control when it bit a two-year-old child at his home on July 19 last year.

At the previous hearing the court heard how the child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had bent down to touch the dog and had been bitten once on the right cheek which meant she needed eight stitches in hospital.

It was the second time the child had been bitten by the same dog. She was also bitten on February 14 last year after she tripped and fell on the dog.

Since Nash appeared in court at the first hearing late last year the family has employed the help of an expert, David Stevens, a dog trainer, behaviourist and dangers dogs expert according to the cover of the report he has prepared privately on their behalf.

Mrs Nash said the expert judged on ‘deed not breed’, a reference to the reputation some Staffordshire Bull Terriers have.

The family has paid £569.29 for the report to be prepared and have had to pay kennel fees, putting them in debt but they say it is worth it to save Buster. The family has also offered to muzzle him if it means he will not be destroyed.

Speaking outside of court, Mrs Nash said: “We love the dog and we know the dog is innocent. He didn’t mean it. It was more of a nip. As soon as he did it he cowered. He just wanted to tell her off. It was thundering outside and that makes the dog stressed.

"We have got in debt for him but he’s our dog. The dog is part of our family and a big softy.”

She also said their cat, Gerrard, was the boss in the house rather than Buster.

During the hearing, Paul Stanley, defending Nash, said the family had had to pay privately for the expert to examine Buster at great expense.

He said he only received a copy of the report himself yesterday. He said the family continued to pay escalating kennel costs. A pre-sentence report has already been prepared.

Copies of the report by the expert were also handed to magistrates.

The next hearing is at Worcester Magistrates Court on February 6. Nash was given unconditional bail until then.