A FATHER-OF-FOUR who lost all feeling in his arm after a dog savaged him says his family is struggling to survive because he cannot work.

Dave Taylor, 36, passed out during the attack last year by a powerful Japanese akita dog, which he was minding at his home for a friend.

He received hospital treatment and was left with an injured back, a large scar and no feeling in his left arm.

This week, his application for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) was turned down. Mr Taylor, who claims income support, has also been refused disability living allowance.

He is appealing against both decisions.

"I think the decision they have made is wrong," he said. "I obviously have a permanent disability caused by the dog, which means I cannot do the job I did.

"I can't just sweep it under the carpet. I have no feeling at all in my arm and it has had a massive affect on my life."

Mr Taylor, from Darlington, used to drive coaches, often travelling abroad for his work.

Now he and his wife, Amanda, 26, who suffered a nervous breakdown after the attack, say they are on the poverty line.

"We really struggle to get by," said Mr Taylor. "We have four children, aged one, two, four and five, and we get £47.40 a week child benefit in total.

"That, along with the income support we get, is just not enough to live on."

Mr Taylor is angry that the dog did not have to be destroyed under the law because it attacked him while in his care and not in a public place.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "Disability Living Allowance is given to people to help them cope with the extra costs they face as a result of their disabilities. If a person is not happy with the outcome of an application they have the right to appeal."

CICA said the attack on Mr Taylor was not a "crime of violence" and so it was unable to make a compensation award out of public funds.