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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Girl killed by pit bull terrier | Girl killed by pit bull terrier |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A five-year-old girl has been killed and her grandmother seriously hurt by a pit bull terrier at the family home on Merseyside. | A five-year-old girl has been killed and her grandmother seriously hurt by a pit bull terrier at the family home on Merseyside. |
| Ellie Lawrenson was mauled to death and Jackie Simpson, 46, suffered serious injuries in the attack in St Helens. | Ellie Lawrenson was mauled to death and Jackie Simpson, 46, suffered serious injuries in the attack in St Helens. |
| Ms Simpson, who is recovering in Whiston Hospital, managed to lock the dog in a run outside the home in Knowles House Avenue, Eccleston. | Ms Simpson, who is recovering in Whiston Hospital, managed to lock the dog in a run outside the home in Knowles House Avenue, Eccleston. |
| The pit bull terrier was destroyed by police following the attack on Monday. | The pit bull terrier was destroyed by police following the attack on Monday. |
| Officers who rushed to the scene shortly before 0430 GMT found Ellie bleeding to death in the living room where she had been attacked. | Officers who rushed to the scene shortly before 0430 GMT found Ellie bleeding to death in the living room where she had been attacked. |
| Ms Simpson, who shared the home with Ellie's aunt and uncle, had been bitten on her arms and legs. | Ms Simpson, who shared the home with Ellie's aunt and uncle, had been bitten on her arms and legs. |
| Serious injuries | Serious injuries |
| Her injuries are described as "serious but not life threatening" and police have revealed that she may have to undergo surgery. | Her injuries are described as "serious but not life threatening" and police have revealed that she may have to undergo surgery. |
| It is not clear why the dog attacked the child and her grandmother but an investigation into the incident is under way. | It is not clear why the dog attacked the child and her grandmother but an investigation into the incident is under way. |
| DANGEROUS DOGS ACT 1991 Drafted at speed after string of dog attacks, and much-criticisedBans breeding and sale/exchange of pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila BrasileiroAlso bans all dogs "appearing... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose"Also covers any dog "dangerously out of control"But this applies only to public property, or private property where the dog is not permittedOut-of-control dogs can be seized and destroyed, and the owners faces a fine or up to six months in prison. If the dog injures someone, that can be up to two years. | |
| Superintendent Jon Ward, operational manager for the St Helens region, said that the dog had not been reported to police for violent behaviour before. | |
| "This is such a tragic incident," he said. | |
| "We attended the scene, by which stage the dog had been shut away down the side entrance of the house. | "We attended the scene, by which stage the dog had been shut away down the side entrance of the house. |
| "When officers arrived it became apparent from a very early stage that the girl had tragically died as a result of the attack. | "When officers arrived it became apparent from a very early stage that the girl had tragically died as a result of the attack. |
| "The ambulance service did what it could for her but unfortunately she died at the scene." | "The ambulance service did what it could for her but unfortunately she died at the scene." |
| Put down | Put down |
| Police dog handlers who arrived minutes later decided the dog, called Reuben, had to be shot as soon as possible. | |
| Mr Ward added: "They made a decision as to whether it was safe to control the dog and seize and safely remove it. | Mr Ward added: "They made a decision as to whether it was safe to control the dog and seize and safely remove it. |
| "The assessment was that that couldn't be done safely so the dog was humanely destroyed at the scene around 5.40am this morning." | "The assessment was that that couldn't be done safely so the dog was humanely destroyed at the scene around 5.40am this morning." |
| Detectives understand Ellie's parents were not in the house at the time of the attack. | Detectives understand Ellie's parents were not in the house at the time of the attack. |
| Police believe Ellie's parents went out to celebrate New Year's Eve, leaving Ellie with her grandmother and when they returned, Ellie asked to stay there. | Police believe Ellie's parents went out to celebrate New Year's Eve, leaving Ellie with her grandmother and when they returned, Ellie asked to stay there. |
| Fireworks investigation | |
| They are then thought to have left the property at about 0340 GMT, shortly before the attack. | |
| According to police, Ellie's uncle - who is thought to own the dog - was not at home when the attack happened. | According to police, Ellie's uncle - who is thought to own the dog - was not at home when the attack happened. |
| However, Mr Ward said Ellie regularly stayed at her grandmother's house so police believe she knew the dog well. | |
| It is unknown at this stage whether Ellie was asleep when the dog pounced but officers will be investigating whether New Year's Eve fireworks may have scared the dog, prompting the vicious attack. | |
| Pit bull terriers are among a number of dog breeds banned from being bred, sold or exchanged under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. | |
| The law also bans all dogs "appearing... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose." |