Pitbull called Asbo savaged boy months before it went on rampage

The American pitbull cross, named Asbo, yesterday broke loose from its home and dragged 20-month-old Amir Santos around "like a rag doll". It then attacked bystanders who tried to beat the animal off with sticks.

The dog had savaged 14-year-old Kelvin Oduro near his home in Mitcham in May and police were warned by his family that the animal was dangerous and should be destroyed.

Kelvin needed stitches for bite wounds in his arm and thigh and was left terrified of dogs.

But despite pleas from his mother Stella for Asbo to be put down, the family claims police allowed its owners to keep the animal. Mrs Oduro, 42, today said the latest attack should have been prevented. The powerful 10-month-old dog broke loose from its home in Lindsey Close, Mitcham, yesterday and went berserk in nearby South Lodge Avenue.

Witnesses described how it grabbed Amir from his mother's arms and dragged him around "like a rag doll" for 10 minutes as she desperately tried to stop it, screaming "help my baby".

Father Edvaldo Santos, 25, said: "My son really is lucky to be alive."

Two off-duty bus drivers saved the toddler's life as they beat the animal with sticks but were then attacked themselves.

It also lunged at Mrs Santos's daughter on her bike before attacking a number of others. Jackie Haggis, 38, said she saw one-injured victim's face "flapping all over the place".

Police marksmen shot the dog two hours after it first attacked, tracking Asbo by helicopter through the surrounding streets.

Four people, including Amir and a 50-year-old woman, were treated in hospital.

Today Mrs Oduro, whose son knows the 12-year-old owner of the dog that attacked him, said: "This should never have happened. The dog was obviously dangerous after what it did to my son.

"I told police they should take it away. I wanted the dog put down. I thought one day it could kill a child. Now it has attacked again." Her sister Trisha Greene claimed the family was told police had been to see the mother of Asbo's owner and told her to make it wear a muzzle when in public but let her keep it.

She said: "Stella was really angry. She complained to the police but we have not heard from them. The dog should have been destroyed months ago."

A 29-year-old woman arrested for having a dog dangerously out of control has been bailed until next month. A spokesman for the Met said it was investigating the earlier attack.