Faces of the children killed in horror dog attacks in UK since 2020
At least five children have been killed by dogs in the past year in the UK with a 26% rise in dangerous dog attacks since the pandemic began in 2020.
Four-year-old Alice Stones is the latest child to be mauled to death by a dog in an attack that shook the nation on Tuesday.
The dog, whose breed has not been identified, was shot dead by police as families queuing at a nearby food bank were told to get inside the church amid fears for their safety. Lancashire Police confirmed it was the family's pet.
A neighbour revealed they heard Alice’s mother screaming in the aftermath of the tragic incident before police arrived at the scene.
Alice's grandfather, who lives nearby, described the tragedy as "horrendous" and said the family are trying to come to terms with it.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Campaigners are calling for laws to be tightened on dangerous dogs (Getty Images/iStockphoto)The tragic girl's death follows those of Daniel John Twigg, three, Lawson Bond, two, Bella-Rae Birch, 17 months, Kyra Leanne King, three months, and Jack Lis, 10, who all died in horrendous dog attacks in recent years.
It is a striking contrast to the three child deaths recorded over a six-year period between 2013 and 2019, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Today the Mirror demands answers to the national complacency around dog attacks. Would there be the same inaction if the young victims were from wealthy families? Or, in modern Britain, are the lives of some children worth less protection than others?
An investigation last autumn showed a 26 per cent rise in attacks by dangerous dogs since the pandemic began in 2020.
The Mirror revealed nine fatal dog attacks against adults and children between January and October 2022 alone, making it the deadliest year on record.
Prior to this, the total number of deadly dog attacks per year remained at five or under, ONS research shows.
Previous data shows three deaths in 2013, four deaths in 2014, five deaths in 2015, four deaths in 2016, four deaths in 2017, zero deaths in 2018, two deaths in 2019, three deaths in 2020, and five deaths in 2021.
In these cases, the cause of death was registered as "bitten or struck by a dog."
It is estimated that there are now 12 million dogs in the UK, two million more than before lockdown. This amounts to around one dog for every five people.
Calls have been made for a change in the law with the RSPCA warning of a "tsunami of welfare and dog behaviour issues" since lockdown.
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While the Metropolitan Police say legislation on dogs can be very complex and includes both criminal and civil offences, with legislation dating back to 1871.
The Mirror has been campaigning for changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act in the wake of a string of fatalities, amid claims little is being done to stop them.
Labour MP for Caerphilly Wayne David last night backed our call.
He said: “There needs to be a rethink of the legislation. It is extremely worrying there’s yet another death.”
Here, we look at the most recent dog fatal dog attacks on children in England and Wales.
Alice Stones, age four
Four-year-old Alice Stones was mauled to death by a dog on Tuesday.
The toddler was at a property in Netherfield, Milton Keynes, when the canine pounced at around 5pm.
A neighbour recalled hearing Alice's mother scream before police arrived and the child was pronounced dead.
Another neighbour Rita Matthews, 36, said she would see the girl while walking her own daughter to school.
Alice Stones died after being mauled by a dog on Broadlands, NetherfieldMother-of-four Ms Matthews described the youngster as a "happy little girl, very happy".
"She would say, 'Bye, auntie', and I would say, 'Bye, little girl'," she said. "You know kids, playing around," she added.
Another local said: “It’s an absolute tragedy. Alice was so sweet. She was an angel.
"I know the girl. It's so sad to hear that news.
"She was always holding her mummy's hand on the way back.
"It's so sad we're not going to see the girl again and I pray all the best to her mum to get her strength back."
The animal was humanely destroyed and an investigation into the tragedy is underway.
Daniel John Twigg, age three
Three-year-old Daniel John Twigg went into cardiac arrest and died after he was attacked by a Cane Corso on May 15, 2022.
A heartbreaking inquest found that the tot suffered head and neck injuries after the dog attacked outside his home in Milnrow, Greater Manchester.
He was rushed to hospital but was unable to be saved by medics.
Daniel John Twigg died following a dog attack in Rochdale in May (Police handout)Police later arrested a 48-year-old man under the Dangerous Dogs Act in connection with the incident and the dog was put down.
After Daniel's death three separate women came forward claiming they were attacked in the same area.
Lawson Bond, age two
Two-year-old Lawson Bond died of serious injuries after a dog attack in Egdon on March 28, 2022.
His family began to drive him to hospital but were told to stop at Worcester Woods Country Park on the advice of the ambulance service.
The toddler was blue-lighted to Worcestershire Royal Hospital and transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital where he died on March 30.
Three Rottweilers were destroyed.
Worcester Woods Country park where Lawson Bond's family were told to stop following the dog attack (Tristan Potter / SWNS)Bella-Rae Birch, age 17 months
Bella-Rae Birch was 17-months-old when she was killed by her family's new dog at their home in St Helens, Merseyside.
A young paramedic and a neighbour tried helplessly to save Bella-Rae after she was savagely mauled by the pet on March 21, 2022.
The neighbour had rushed over to help after hearing the baby's screams and found her devastated mother Treysharn Bates "crying hysterically" outside the house.
Bella-Rae Birch was killed at her own home by an out-of-control dog (Merseyside Police / SWNS.COM)Police were called shortly before 4pm and the child was rushed to hospital where she died fro her injuries.
The dog was handed over to police and humanely destroyed.
Kyra Leanne King, age three months
Just two weeks earlier on March 6, Kyra Leanne King was killed at a dog walking spot in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire.
She was pronounced dead at the scene having experienced horrific injuries to her neck and head, after a husky sled dog called Blizzard attacked her.
Speaking at the time, locals claimed the animal’s owners regularly raced it and other huskies on converted ‘sleds’ after dark at the popular forest.
Flower tributes were left for Kyra Leanne King who was killed at a dog walking spot in Woodhall Spa, Lincs (Lincolnshire Live/MEN Media)Kyra's mum and dad have both been charged with being the owner and/or in charge of a dog which was out of control causing injury resulting in death.
Karen Alcock, 41, pleaded guilty while Vince King, 54, denies the charge.
Alcock will be sentenced this year while King will stand trial in June.
Jack Lis, age 10
Schoolboy Jack Lis, 10, was mauled to death by an American XL Bully while visiting a friend's home in November 2021.
Police were forced to shoot dead the pet after arriving at the scene in Penyrheol in Caerphilly, Wales.
His heartbroken mum Emma Whitfield said the dog, named Beast, attacked her son's face and neck.
She said when a paramedic brought out a blanket suddenly she realised he wasn't going to make it.
Jack Lis was attacked by an American bully while playing with a friend at a house in Penyrheol, Wales (PA)But Emma added she tries to remember him going out earlier that day "with his skateboard in his hands" rather than the horror of his final moments
The dog's owners Brandon Hayden and Amy Salter were later jailed.
American Bullies are not a banned breed in the UK but have been responsible for a rising number of fatalities in recent months.
Elon Jase Ellis-Joynes, age 12 days
Little Elon Jase Ellis-Joynes was just 12 days old when he was savaged to death by a pet dog on September 13, 2020.
The newborn suffered 40 puncture wounds after being brutally attacked by the Chow Chow Alsatian cross called Teddy which was "dangerously out of control.
Teddy was owned by the baby's dad Stephen Joynes, 36, who was jailed for four years following the tragedy.
Sheffield Crown Court heard that the hellish incident took place at a family home shared by Joynes and his fiancée Abigail Ellis, 28, in Doncaster, Yorks.
Elon Jase Ellis-Joynes was just 12 days old when he was killed by a Chow Chow-crossMs Ellis was charged alongside Joynes with the offence of being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog, causing injury resulting in death.
She was due to stand trial, but charges against her were dropped after Joynes took full responsibility and admitted the charge.
He pleaded guilty at the same court last December to a charge of being the owner of a dog which caused death when dangerously out of control.
The RSPCA has long been calling for a total reform of dog control laws and the need for a different approach to keeping people safe and dog welfare protected.
The RSPCA shared advice when choosing a pet dog (Getty Images)
It is also calling for effective legislation for all dog breeds (Getty Images)Dr Samantha Gaines, from the charity's companion animals department, explained that any dog has the potential to bite, so effective legislation for all breeds is necessary.
"We want to see effective breed neutral legislation and enforcement which focuses on early intervention so that incidents can be prevented from occurring or escalating, but they must be evidence based and proportionate," she said.
The animal expert extended the charity's condolences in the wake of the tragic death of Alice Stones.
She added: “The recent dog attack in Milton Keynes is a deeply sad incident and our thoughts are with all those affected by this little girl’s tragic loss at what will be an unimaginably difficult time.
“Aggression in dogs is very complex and there are different reasons why a dog might bite such as an underlying medical condition or injury, or fear of certain situations or circumstances."
While the wider circumstances of the attack remain unknown, Dr Gaines maintained that the RSPCA would always provide the same advice when getting a dog.
Dog owners to be are advised to make sure the animal has been bred responsibly so that they are less at risk from health and behavioural problems, she explained.
They must also ensure the dog gets proper training and socialisation from an early age and that they are able to lead a happy life.
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