Banned breed probe into killer dog

Dec 1 2009

Police are set to learn whether a dog that killed a four-year-old boy was a breed banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

John-Paul Massey was attacked by the animal while he was at his grandmother's house in Liverpool in the early hours of Monday.

The youngster, described by his headteacher as a "friendly, cheerful little boy" suffered massive injuries and died at the scene. Police shot the dog.

His grandmother, Helen Foulkes, 63, was also savaged as she tried to protect the youngster who she was baby-sitting at her home in Ash Grove, Wavertree. She has since been released from hospital.

Merseyside Police said if the dog, described by neighbours as a "pitbull" type, is found to be a banned breed then the owner may face prosecution.

An internal police investigation has also been mounted after it emerged concerns about dogs at the house were reported to the force last February.

The matter went no further because a call centre operator wrongly told the complainant, a local housing officer, it was not a police matter.