It took a lot of courage for Rukhsana Khan, as a little girl, to cope with the terrible injuries inflicted on her 15 years ago by an uncontrolled pit bull terrier. She had to endure a lot of pain, with 31 wounds to her face and body.

Now Rukhsana has shown her courage again by breaking her silence and speaking for the first time about her ordeal and its consequences in an exclusive interview with the Telegraph & Argus. She has done so because she wants to support our Curb the Danger Dogs Campaign calling on the Home Secretary to strengthen the law.

She reveals that she is still terrified of dogs and will carry the mental scars for the rest of her life. Here is an example of the trauma an attack can cause over and above the horrific physical injuries. It is not just the four breeds bred specifically for fighting which can do this harm. All dogs, potentially, are capable of turning nasty - particularly if they are in the hands of brutish individuals like the man who has reportedly been urging his two Rhodesian Ridgebacks to attack children in the Thornbury area.

Owners need to be made to act responsibly. We believe that only the sort of changes to the law sought by our campaign can help to make the streets safer for the public.

If you agree, please sign our petition on page 26 so we can show the Home Secretary the strength of feeling there is in Bradford about the inadequacies of the Dangerous Dogs Act, which was rushed in without proper thought following the attack on Rukhsana Khan.