30/11/2009

Boy Killed In Dog Attack

A four-year-old boy has been mauled to death by a dog at a house in Liverpool.

Emergency services were called to a house in Ashgrove, Wavertree, shortly after midnight on Monday, following reports that the child was being attacked by the dog.

Tragically, the boy, who has been named in reports as Jon Paul Massey, had suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.

A 63-year-old woman was also injured and was taken to hospital for treatment. It is understood that she was hurt as she tried to separate the dog from the child.

Dog handlers and armed response officers attended the scene and the dog was destroyed. Attempts to establish the breed of dog are ongoing.

Chief Superintendent Steve Ashley said: "This is a tragic incident and a full and thorough investigation will be carried out into the circumstances surrounding this young boy's death.

"Officers are with the family and our sympathies are with them at this time.

"Of utmost importance in such incidents is the safety of the public and of police officers. When officers arrived at the address, the dog was in an agitated state in the front garden of the property and was deemed to be a danger to the public.

"As a result, we were left with no other option but to have the animal destroyed quickly and humanely."

An investigation into the incident is continuing.

(KMcA/BMcC)

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