Tot patted 'lovely' XL bullies day before they broke into garden and mauled her

20 September 2023 , 07:27

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Ella was left with scars after the horrific attack (Image: BBC)

A two-year-old girl patted a group of “lovely” XL Bullies on the head just a day before five of them mauled her in a “tug of war” attack in her own garden.

Sandra Mckevitt, now 63, was enjoying a lovely picnic in her back garden in Dingle, Liverpool, with her then two-year-old niece Ella, and her two young cousins on May 7 2016. She recalled it being “one of those really hot days”. But then her neighbour’s XL Bully dogs crashed through the garden fence and attacked them. They could hear the dogs, but thought nothing of it, partly as Ella had loved them, patting them on the head, the day prior.

Four of the XL Bully dogs were destroyed following the vicious attack (BBC)

Speaking to The Liverpool Echo, Sandra said: "We were having a little picnic in the garden, and I remember it was one of those hot days. We had baked some cakes and they [the children] were playing and running around. We could hear the dogs next door but we didn't really think anything of it, Ella was patting them on the head the day before and they were lovely dogs. Next thing I heard this bang and saw one of the dogs heads through the side of the fence, we were laughing at first but then I saw its eyes - I will never forget them eyes."

Sandra told Ella's cousins, who were stood by the back door of the house, to go inside and seconds later five XL Bullies went straight for Ella. She said: "Ella started screaming, they were circling us and one at a time going for her and me. It was literally one at a time, it was like their instincts took over. At one point it was tug of war with a baby. They had hold of her by her cheek and I was pulling her legs to get them off her. I fell down at one point and I knew I had to get up to help Ella and to make sure they couldn't get my neck."

Ella whilst in Alder Hey Hospital covered in bites and scratches (BBC)

The youngster has overcome her fear of dogs since

The man who owned the dogs appeared in Sandra's garden and started distracting the five XL bullies, and puppies that had come through the fence. This gave Sandra enough time to "scoop" Ella up and take her into the house. First responders arrived at the scene a short time later and Ella was airlifted to Aintree Hospital where she underwent a nine hour surgery for various injuries to her body.

Girl, 4, mauled to death in dog attack pictured as neighbours hear mum's screams

Sandra said: "Her face just didn't look anything like her, swollen, stitches everywhere, your heart just broke. Her cheek was hanging off, you could see her scalp, there were cuts near her eye. She was just bleeding everywhere. She had a white top on and it was red." There were a total of 18 XL bullies found in the house, four of which were destroyed by police. Sandra added that when Ella was told the dogs were killed, she "burst into tears" as she thought "the dogs were killed because of her".

Sandra said: "She [Ella] just wanted to be in darkness after the attack. She and her cousins were scared of animals they couldn't communicate with, even flies. It took years to teach them it's not all dogs, but one question they kept asking was 'why did they attack us'. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, and when I was finally allowed back home the blood was still everywhere. I could see her little footprints and mine in the garden and the smears of blood behind the door. It took months for them to go."

Ella is now nine years old and was discharged from Alder Hey Children's Hospital last year after completing her treatment. She's overcome her fear of animals and now owns a French Bulldog called Ralphie. Sandra said: "Thankfully she doesn't remember the attack, but she says she feels sorry for me for remembering it and witnessing it. It's just the type of kid she is, she's beautiful. The scars on her face and body are fading. If people ask her what happened she will just tell them she was attacked by five dogs."

Sandra said seeing an increase in dog attacks over the last year "takes her back" to the incident that happened in her back garden seven years ago. She said: "Every time I hear someone has been attacked, by any breed, I just go cold. It just takes me back to that day and I hope those involved are okay and recover from it. In my opinion I think it's down to the owner of the dog. If it's treated badly what do you think it's going to do?"

Abigail Nicholson