Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Poor family my daughter is five the same as this little girl and i can only imagine how heartbroken they are.


The family of a five-year-old girl mauled to death by a dog paid a moving tribute to her today as police investigated whether the animal was being kept illegally.

Ellie Lawrenson was killed by her uncle?s pitbull-type terrier despite desperate attempts by her grandmother to save her on New Year?s Day.

Her uncle, Kiel Simpson, could be arrested later today if the animal is found to be an unregistered type of pitbull terrier. Her family said that they were "absolutely devastated" by the tragedy.

In a statement released through Merseyside Police, Ellie?s relatives, from St Helens, said: "Ellie was always happy and smiling. She was a little angel, full of life and always running around.

(http://images.thetimes.co.uk/TGD/picture/0,,380174,00.jpg)

"She loved her music and was a proper little girl, performing her routines and singing along to Beyonce and the X-factor. She was always sociable, playing with other children and chatting to neighbours.

 
 
"We had a great Christmas together, with her little brother, Josh, who Ellie doted on and thought she was a second mother to.

"She was an active little girl, she loved horse-riding and was looking forward to going ice-skating for the first time in the new year.

"We are absolutely devastated and can't believe she is gone."

Ellie had recently moved into the reception class of Tower College, a private school in Rainhill and her school report said: "Ellie is a happy little girl, who mixes well with other children ....she is a popular member of her class."

A post-mortem examination will take place today to find out if the animal was a breed subject to the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The dog, named Reuben, which is just over a year old and had been owned by the family since it was a puppy, was destroyed by police marksmen at the grandmother's house where the attack took place in Eccleston, near St Helens.

Owners of pure-bred pitbull terriers can be legally to blame for attacks made by them under the provisions of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.

If the dog is found to be a pure-bred pitbull, or to have the characteristics of a pitbull, then Mr Simpson, as the owner, could be held legally responsible if the dog is not registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.

According to Chris Laurence, veterinary director of the Dogs Trust, if a registered dog attacks someone in its owner?s home then the owner has not broken the law.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said today: "The investigation is continuing today and determining the precise breed of the dog involved is a priority.

"There is a possibility that an arrest could be made and charges brought."

The Government has taken several steps to legislate against those who breed and trade dangerous dogs, as well as those who own them. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is the most prominent of the various laws, including the 1871 and 1989 Dangerous Dogs Act.

Section one of the 1991 Act bans the breeding and sale or exchange of four kinds of dog - the pitbull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brasileiro.

It also bans any other dog "appearing... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose".

A dog does not have to be a pure breed of one of the four named breeds, but can be a cross breed, for example, it could look or act predominantly like a pitbull. Officers at Merseyside have recently been trained to identify types of dog.

Possession of a prohibited dog can result in a maximum fine of ?5,000 and/or six months jail, but this can rise to two years if the dog injures someone. The dog may also be destroyed.

Banned dogs can only be exempted from a destruction order if a court agrees and strict conditions are met. But any dog that behaves dangerously can be seized and destroyed.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police explained that it is an offence to own a pitbull terrier that has not been registered.

The dog must be neutered, tattooed and microchipped, and must be kept on a lead and muzzled when in a public place.

Other pieces of legislation covering dogs include the Animals Act 1971, which says the keeper of an animal is liable for any damage it causes, the Guard Dogs Act 1975 and the Dogs Act 1871.

The Animal Welfare Bill, which is going through Parliament at the moment, will also include codes of practice for keeping dogs.

Just over 1,000 American Pit Bulls are owned legally under the Dangerous Dogs Act in England, according to figures released in September.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,200-2527232,00.html

OMMMGGG. This is all I'm hearing about in my hotel (I'm in London for vacation  ;D)... all the news channels are switching between Saddams death.. and "5 year old girl mauled by a pit bull terrier type dog thing"

It's not that its not sad.. its just, why the huge news about it?

Hmm a pit bull?, are people in the uk still allowed to have those kind of dogs?

they were banned a long time ago over here, for exactly these kind of things...

The Government has taken several steps to legislate against those who breed and trade dangerous dogs, as well as those who own them. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is the most prominent of the various laws, including the 1871 and 1989 Dangerous Dogs Act.

Section one of the 1991 Act bans the breeding and sale or exchange of four kinds of dog - the pitbull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brasileiro.

It also bans any other dog "appearing... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose".

A dog does not have to be a pure breed of one of the four named breeds, but can be a cross breed, for example, it could look or act predominantly like a pitbull. Officers at Merseyside have recently been trained to identify types of dog.

Possession of a prohibited dog can result in a maximum fine of ?5,000 and/or six months jail, but this can rise to two years if the dog injures someone. The dog may also be destroyed.

Banned dogs can only be exempted from a destruction order if a court agrees and strict conditions are met. But any dog that behaves dangerously can be seized and destroyed.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police explained that it is an offence to own a pitbull terrier that has not been registered.

The dog must be neutered, tattooed and microchipped, and must be kept on a lead and muzzled when in a public place.

Other pieces of legislation covering dogs include the Animals Act 1971, which says the keeper of an animal is liable for any damage it causes, the Guard Dogs Act 1975 and the Dogs Act 1871.

  Grouse, I see from your profile you are in the Netherlands.  I wish my American politicians saw things a bit more Dutch.  If they don't ban pit bulls, it sure would be nice if owners of the animals were held accountable for deaths and/or maulings.  (and I'm not talking about slaps on the wrist either)  I think these irresponsible scumbag owners deserve life in prison without the chance for parole along with the animal being put down immediately.
Just my opinion.

That's the thing really.

The majority of dogs out there, whn trained (or beaten) enough can pose a threat to people.

It's the owners that should be held accountable most of the time. Some dogs, such as the pitbull have shown over time that they can go nuts in a violent way on people and other animals. But, in most cases, give a pitbull a good home and chances are it'd never harm anything.

I agree, but not just training, it's breeding as well.  "... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose"

We, both the pet owners and the breeders, should be held accountable for how we train them irresponsibly or if we decide to breed them in specific (horrific) ways for our own vanity.   

I guess that's what I was trying to suggest in my other topic about dogs before it degenerated into a discussion about purple dogs. But it seems we only care when humans get hurt as a result of our irresponsibility.  It makes sense, I suppose.

I work at an animal hospital and there is a pit bull that boards with us regularly. And it is the nicest animal i have ever met in my life. Its so suprising to hear stories like this.

how did I miss that part? :hihi:, was in a bit of a hurry so didn't read it properly...but thnx anyway :)



totally agree with you, although legislation concerning pets can be pretty strict over here it's also a good thing when it comes to these kind of cases.

Dogo Argentino?

Pit Bull?

Shees, I'm thinking about getting the first one myself.

It might be just me, but the pit bulls I've met have been social and nice dogs, even if my ex thought they were ugly. And Dogo's as well.

Also when a dog attacks someone you usually find the fault in the other end of the leash. For an example her uncle should've watched after his dog, the story don't tell tho if Ellie and the dog had met before.

I don't ever let my dogs unwatched if there are little kids in the house.

Its a very sad thing what happened to this girl, but the only reason we hear about it is because it was a pit. There are dog attacks every day, but the news will only report it when its a Pit.

this is very sad but its not the dogs that are inherently mean. like others have said its how they are bred and how they are treated. you treat anything like shit its gonna be mean. a dog a cat a human etc. i have a friend who has two pitbulls and they are swethearts friendly to everyone even her little nieces and nephews.