THE dad of a baby boy fighting for his life after being attacked by his Staffordshire Bull Terrier reportedly said "these dogs are my babies too" when a neighbour warned him they weren't safe around kids.

Reuben McNulty, aged under a month old, was attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning at his family home in Yaxley, near Peterborough.

Reuben's dad Dan reportedly dismissed a neighbour's fears that his dogs could be dangerous Credit: Facebook

But one neighbour - who asked not to be named - said they pointed out to dad-to-be Dan, 31, that the dogs could be dangerous.

They told The Daily Mirror: "When Amy was pregnant I said to Dan, ‘What are you going to do about the dogs?’. He told me, ‘The dogs are our babies’."

Amy, 28, and Dan were at Reuben's bedside last night as he fought for life at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

Yesterday the tot's grandad Paul Litchfield described the mauling as a "freak accident" after Reuben's parents were quizzed by cops.

Little Reuben is fighting for his life in hospital after being mauled by a dog

The infant was attacked by one his parents' Staffordshire Bull Terrier dogs Fizz and Dotty.

Mum Amy was said to have doted on the animals and previously referred to them on Facebook as her “furr babys".

Speaking outside the couple's £160,000 two-bed flat, Reuben's grandad said: "The kid is not good bless him. Even the parents are in a bad way. They're in bits, they're devastated.

"At the end of the day it's just a big freak accident and everyone's making a big thing of it."

Paul Litchfield, Reuben's grandad said the baby was 'in a bad way' Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Mr Litchfield added: "They've done nothing wrong and the way it's being portrayed at the minute, they're horrible parents.

"They bloody aren't... they've been fantastic. If they were horrible parents they wouldn't be sitting with that young lad now.

"People need to realise there's always two sides to the story.

"The thing is there's a lot at stake here for everybody, not just them, for us as well, as family."

The dogs have been taken from the property and placed in police kennels.

The couple own two Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Fizzy and Dotty Credit: Facebook

An officer at the house in Yaxley where a one-month baby was attacked by his dad's dog Credit: � Terry Harris

One neighbour said: "I have seen those dogs before and they are vicious and will show their teeth at anyone."

Reuben's unemployed parents were arrested on suspicion of child neglect and released on bail until December 15.

A police spokesman said: "We were called by the ambulance service at 1.47am (Sunday, November 18) to an address in Yaxley, with reports of concern for baby boy who had been attacked by a dog.

"Officers and paramedics attended the scene and the baby was taken to Peterborough City Hospital before being transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, with life-threatening injuries.

"He remains in a critical condition.

Paul Litchfield described the attack as a 'freak accident' Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Mum Amy was said to have doted on the animals and previously referred to them on Facebook as her 'furr babys'

"A 28-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, both from Yaxley, were arrested on suspicion of child neglect and have been bailed until 15 December.

"Two dogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, were taken from the property and are in police kennels.

"Police remain at the scene and an investigation has been launched."

Under UK law, the Dangerous Dogs Act [1991] bans four breeds of dogs from being owned or bred.

These are the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.

Often confused with the banned Pit Bull Terrier breed, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not banned in the UK, despite being described by some as "dangerous".

The Government advises owners it is against the law for any dog to be "dangerously out of control anywhere".

Dogs are considered dangerously out of control if they injure someone or make someone fear they may be injured.

A person could face an unlimited fine and/or be sent to jail for six months if their dog is dangerously out of control.

A lengthy prison sentence can be expected if their dog injuries or kills someone.

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