Pictured: Seven-stone American pitbull-type dog that mauled boy, 10, to death
Pictured: Seven-stone American pitbull-type dog that mauled boy, 10, to death as police probe whether animal is banned breed and MP calls for urgent review into dangerous dog laws
Jack Lis, 10, was killed by an American pitbull-style dog while playing at a friend’s house in Caerphilly Neighbours and paramedics tried to save him but he died at the scene and the dog was destroyed on siteDetectives are now investigating whether the animal was one of four outlawed breeds in the UKMP has called for an urgent review into dangerous dog laws after boy, 10, was mauled to death on Monday In an emotional tribute on Facebook, his mother Emma Whitfield called Jack her ‘sweet, sweet boy’
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This is the ‘aggressive’ American pitbull-type dog which mauled a ‘sweet’ 10-year-old boy to death in Wales
This is the ‘aggressive’ American pitbull-type dog which mauled a ‘sweet’ 10-year-old boy to death in Wales.
Jack Lis was killed by the ‘powerful’ 7st beast while playing at a friend’s house in Caerphilly after school on Monday afternoon, Gwent Police said. His terrified friend then ran for help while reportedly screaming: ‘My dog has killed my friend’.
Paramedics were called to the scene at around 4pm but they were unable to save him, and the brown and white dog was destroyed by armed police on site. Neighbours say they believe the animal was an American pitbull, but a post-mortem has yet to verify the breed.
Labour MP Wayne David called for an urgent review into dangerous dog laws after Jack’s ‘traumatic’ and ‘tragic’ death, as detectives investigate whether the animal was one of four outlawed breeds, which include the American pitbull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Braziliero.
Speaking outside Blackwood police station last night, Chief Superintendent Mark Hobrough said the dog, which shocked neighbours said was around 15 months old, was ‘large and powerful’ and had been ‘highly aggressive’ when it attacked Jack.
The senior detective said: ‘We’ve been speaking to the owner of the dog after the incident was contained and that is very much happening now. We’re looking at all the investigative aspects of this that may involve arrests or dealing with individuals if any offences are identified.
‘I think the investigation over time will give us more details as to the background as to what’s happened and if there was anything avoidable that’s happened through neglect or wilful act.’
He added: ‘To buy a banned dog is a criminal offence and there’s no excuse for it and it will be dealt with the full weight of UK legislation.
‘My advice to dog owners in general and people who are potentially looking to buy dogs is to do background research on the type of dog that suit your activities and your family or domestic set-up. As a dog owner for many, many years myself, dogs need exercising and you got to get a dog who is suitable to your needs as well.’
Neighbour Tracey Lawrence said Jack’s friend had rushed out and screamed for help after the attack, telling The Sun: ‘My neighbour went and tried to push the door open but the dog had latched on to the boy’s leg. Everyone was out on the street crying.’
In an emotional tribute on Facebook yesterday, Jack’s heartbroken mother Emma Whitfield, 32, wrote: ‘We love you so much our sweet, sweet boy.’
Those living on the street say they have been appalled by the incident. Ricky Willis, 70, said: ‘The first I heard of it my neighbour knocked on my door, it’s a big shock. I’ve lived on this road for 46 years and I’ve never seen anything like this happen.’
Pictured: Jack Lis, the 10-year-old killed by an American Pitbull-style dog in South Wales while playing with a friend
Jack was killed by the ‘powerful’ and ‘aggressive’ animal while playing at a friend’s house in Caerphilly after school on Monday afternoon, Gwent Police said
Labour MP for Caerphilly Wayne David (right) called for an urgent review into dangerous dog laws. Jack’s mother Emma Whitfield (left) paid tribute to her ‘sweet, sweet boy’ in an emotional Facebook post yesterday
Police officers at the scene where a 10-year-old boy has died after reportedly being attacked by a dog in Caerphilly on November 9, 2021
This maps shows Caerphilly in South Wales, where Jack Lis was mauled to death by an American pitbull-type dog
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, described the scene as ‘chaos’.
While another said: ‘I feel sick to my stomach thinking about what happened to that boy. We went out to see what was going on but the police asked us to go back inside while they put the child in the ambulance. So we did, out of respect.’
Neighbour Tracey Lawrence said the alarm was raised by tragic Jack’s friend who ran out of the house as the animal attacked in the hallway.
She said: ‘The little boy that lives there ran over to the neighbour and said: ‘My dog has killed my friend.’ My neighbour went and tried to push the door open but the dog had latched on to the boy’s leg.
‘Everyone was out on the street crying. It was awful here. Everyone was upset.’
The dog was about 15 months old – and described as being ‘trouble’ by other villagers. Tracey said: ‘The boys were very young to be home alone. Especially with a dog like that.
‘Last time I saw the dog it was only a small puppy but seeing him yesterday it was like: ‘Oh my God.’
‘The police were distracting the dog to get it away from the boy and it was up on the sink with huge muscles in his shoulders.’
Neighbour Kirk Wiegold battled to pull the dog off little Jack – but described the animal as ‘just being too fierce to do anything.’
A family member said: ‘He just wishes he could have done more but thinks it was too late. He’s feeling really upset about it – it was horrible thing to see.’
One mother on the school run said: ‘It was an American bulldog. It had snapped at neighbours before and had been seen running down the street. The little boy didn’t live there. He had just been on the school bus and had gone to visit his friend. I couldn’t live with that knowing somebody else’s child has died in my care.’
School head Gareth Rees held special talks with ‘shocked’ staff and pupils over the tragedy. He said: ‘It is a very difficult day.’
The dog was shot by police marksmen and it’s owner is being interviewed by police. Neighbours said the dog was ‘known to be trouble’ – and rumoured to have bitten another man and killed a cat in recent weeks.
One mother, who lives just a few doors away from the scene, said: ‘I had no idea what happened until I came home and saw the police. I can’t imagine what the family are going through.’
Cllr Lindsay Whittle, chairman of governors at Cwm Ifor Primary School, said: ‘It is just too tragic for words. I’m in tears just thinking about what happened. I’ve spoken to the head and it is going to be very difficult to tell all his friends and classmates what has happened.
Police at the scene in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, near Caerphilly. Armed police killed the dog after the attack
Flowers left outside a house where a 10-year-old boy died after being attacked by a dog on November 9, 2021
Crime officers at the scene where a 10-year-old boy was killed by a dog. Police are conducting house-to-house inquiries
Crime officers at the scene where a 10-year-old boy was killed by a dog. Police confirmed Jack was not killed in his own house
‘This is an entre village in shock. I’m heartbroken for his poor parents and we are all devastated.’
A Gwent Police spokesman said: ‘We were called to an address in Pentwyn, Penyrhoel, Caerphilly at around 3.55pm on Monday 8 November, following reports of a dog attack.
‘Officers attended, including specially-trained firearms officers, alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service, who confirmed that a 10-year-old boy had died at the scene.
‘The dog was destroyed by firearms officers and no other animals were involved in the attack.’
Crime officers at the scene where a 10-year-old boy was killed by a dog. Jack was described as ‘fun-loving and full of life’ by shocked parents and residents
Flowers left outside the house in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, near Caerphilly where Jack was mauled to death
Police standing outside a home in Penrhyl, Caerphilly after Jack Lis was mauled to death by a dog
A 10-year-old boy died after being attacked by a dog at an address in Caerphilly yesterday
A cordon remained in place around several houses in Caerphilly late on Monday evening
Police said investigations into the incident were continuing.
Cllr Steve Skivens said: ‘Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the young man who has lost his life. We would also like to extend our thoughts to all the emergency services who attended the incident. Unfortunately an animal had to be put down
‘We await the details from the police. It’s a tragic, tragic loss of a young life.’
Forensics officers were at the scene late into Monday evening, with another police car also present and several houses cordoned off as officers controlled access to the scene.
