Toddler dies after dog attack
Updated on 30 November 2009
A four-year-old boy has died after being savaged by a dog at a family home in Liverpool. Jane Deith reports.
The child, named as John-Paul Massey, was attacked just after midnight. A 63-year-old woman was badly hurt as she tried to pull the dog away.
Armed response officers who were called to the house destroyed the animal, calling it a danger to the public.
The police have now launched an investigation, as it emerged they had rebuffed a call from a housing official earlier this year, who was concerned that the family was breeding dogs.
John-Paul suffered fatal injuries when he was savaged by the family pet in the early hours of today. The animal, described by neighbours as a pitbull type, also savaged his grandmother, Helen Foulkes, as she tried to protect the youngster who she was babysitting at her home in Liverpool.
Mrs Foulkes, 63, who suffered dog bites to her legs and body, has since been discharged from hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Merseyside Police tonight said an investigation is under way into the ownership of the dog and whether it was an illegal breed.
The force also revealed a complaint was made by a city housing officer last February about dog breeding at the home in Ash Grove, Wavertree. But a police call centre operator told the caller it was "not a police matter" and the complaint was never followed up.
Chief Superintendent Steve Ashton, area commander for south Liverpool, said the response was "incorrect" and a separate investigation will take place to find out why specialist "dangerous dog squad" officers did not visit the house.
Mr Ashton said: "We didn't respond. The operator decided it was not a police matter, which was incorrect. "Had the correct procedures been followed a qualified officer would have gone to the house and looked into the matter."
Merseyside Police has destroyed 339 dogs of illegal breeds since the death of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson on New Year's Day 2007.
Ellie was also being minded by her grandmother when she suffered dozens of bites from her uncle's pitbull terrier Reuben.
