Young boy whose face was mauled by XL Bully receives bravery award

A young boy whose face was mauled by an XL Bully has received an award for his bravery. 

Alejandro Mizsan (now aged 11) was attacked by an unmuzzled dog while playing with his friends in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford in 2022. 

Other children managed to escape the attack, however Alejandro sustained serious injuries to his face and body despite the intervention of a heroic neighbour who managed to pull the dog away. 

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) recently gave Alejandro a certificate recognising his "remarkable courage beyond his years". 

According to the ISPCA, a man and woman were recently jailed following the dog attack, with Judge James McCourt sentencing the woman to three years in prison for each of the endangerment counts, with the final 12 months of each sentence suspended. 

The man reportedly got three years for each of the threats to kill or cause serious harm and 20 months for the inhumane killing of the dog. 

He has reportedly been in custody since November 2022, and was given a credit of 12 months for time already served. 

In a statement, an ISPCA spokesperson said, "The ISPCA is committed to doing everything it can to remove animals from owners who are carrying out acts of cruelty and those who are non-compliant with the legislation. Well done to all involved in bringing this case before the courts."