This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/8389013.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fatal attack dog 'illegal breed' | Fatal attack dog 'illegal breed' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The dog that mauled a four-year-old boy to death in Liverpool was an illegal breed, police have confirmed. | The dog that mauled a four-year-old boy to death in Liverpool was an illegal breed, police have confirmed. |
| John Paul Massey died from head and neck injuries in the attack at his grandmother's home in Wavertree. | |
| Merseyside Police said the dog was a "pit bull terrier type", a breed banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. A criminal investigation has begun. | |
| The force has apologised after reports of dog breeding at the Ash Grove property were not followed up. | |
| In February a housing officer told police residents had complained about suspected dog breeding but was told it was not a police matter. | |
| The animal also savaged the child's grandmother, Helen Foulkes, as she tried to protect the boy she was babysitting in the early hours of Monday. | |
| The dog was shot dead by armed officers after Ms Foulkes managed to get it out of the house. | |
| Deputy Chief Constable Patricia Gallan said establishing the breed of the dog had been "a complex issue". |