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| Family devastated by girl's death | Family devastated by girl's death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The family of a five-year-old girl killed by her uncle's dog say they are "absolutely devastated" by her death. | The family of a five-year-old girl killed by her uncle's dog say they are "absolutely devastated" by her death. |
| Ellie Lawrenson died of severe head and neck injuries after being mauled at her grandmother's house in St Helens. | Ellie Lawrenson died of severe head and neck injuries after being mauled at her grandmother's house in St Helens. |
| In a statement, Ellie's family described her as a "little angel" who "doted" on her younger brother. | In a statement, Ellie's family described her as a "little angel" who "doted" on her younger brother. |
| Police and council officials met to discuss the dog, described as a pit bull terrier-type, and confirmed they had received two complaints about it. | Police and council officials met to discuss the dog, described as a pit bull terrier-type, and confirmed they had received two complaints about it. |
| "Ellie was always happy and smiling. She was a little angel, full of life and always running around," they said. | "Ellie was always happy and smiling. She was a little angel, full of life and always running around," they said. |
| "We had a great Christmas together, with her little brother, Josh, who Ellie doted on and thought she was a second mother to. | "We had a great Christmas together, with her little brother, Josh, who Ellie doted on and thought she was a second mother to. |
| When a child loses her life in such circumstances, it has an effect on the whole community Supt Jon Ward Send us your comments | When a child loses her life in such circumstances, it has an effect on the whole community Supt Jon Ward Send us your comments |
| "We are absolutely devastated and can't believe she is gone." | "We are absolutely devastated and can't believe she is gone." |
| Officers said the family were all together to comfort one another following Ellie's death. | Officers said the family were all together to comfort one another following Ellie's death. |
| Officers from Merseyside Police and St Helens Council are waiting to determine whether the dog is a breed which falls under the Dangerous Dogs Act. | Officers from Merseyside Police and St Helens Council are waiting to determine whether the dog is a breed which falls under the Dangerous Dogs Act. |
| The 1991 Act imposed conditions on the ownership of four types of dog. | |
| A post-mortem examination of the 12-month-old dog, which the family had owned since it was a puppy, is also being carried out. | A post-mortem examination of the 12-month-old dog, which the family had owned since it was a puppy, is also being carried out. |
| It has emerged that the dog's owner, Ellie's uncle, was warned by St Helens Council last June about the animal's behaviour after it attacked another dog. | It has emerged that the dog's owner, Ellie's uncle, was warned by St Helens Council last June about the animal's behaviour after it attacked another dog. |
| A second letter was sent after the council received a complaint about the dog's barking. | A second letter was sent after the council received a complaint about the dog's barking. |
| Pit bulls and the law Pit bull amnesty starts | Pit bulls and the law Pit bull amnesty starts |
| Several neighbours claimed the dog had violent tendencies and one man, who did not want to be named, said he had been attacked by the animal. | Several neighbours claimed the dog had violent tendencies and one man, who did not want to be named, said he had been attacked by the animal. |
| Police found Ellie in the living room of the property in Knowles House Avenue, Eccleston, shortly before 0430 GMT on Monday. | Police found Ellie in the living room of the property in Knowles House Avenue, Eccleston, shortly before 0430 GMT on Monday. |
| Ellie's grandmother, Jackie Simpson, 46, had managed to lock the dog outside but suffered injuries to tendons in her arm, and wounds to her thumb and elbow. | Ellie's grandmother, Jackie Simpson, 46, had managed to lock the dog outside but suffered injuries to tendons in her arm, and wounds to her thumb and elbow. |
| She was taken to Whiston Hospital and underwent emergency surgery but is now said to be in a stable condition. | She was taken to Whiston Hospital and underwent emergency surgery but is now said to be in a stable condition. |
| The dog was shot dead at the scene by a police marksman. | The dog was shot dead at the scene by a police marksman. |
| Police said Ellie had been staying with her grandmother after her parents had been out to celebrate New Year's Eve. | Police said Ellie had been staying with her grandmother after her parents had been out to celebrate New Year's Eve. |
| Supt John Ward, of Merseyside Police, said: "This is such a tragic incident. When a child loses her life in such circumstances, it has an effect on the whole community." | Supt John Ward, of Merseyside Police, said: "This is such a tragic incident. When a child loses her life in such circumstances, it has an effect on the whole community." |