Police have confirmed the breed of a dog which mauled 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch to death in her own home.
The baby girl was mauled by the animal at her home at around 3.50pm on Monday, March 21. Emergency services rushed to the scene, on Bidston Avenue, St Helens and took the baby to hospital.
Tragically, Bella-Rae died from her injuries in hospital a short time later. Police have reported that Bella-Rae's family had bought the dog just a week before the attack.
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Tests have confirmed that the dog involved was an American Bully XL, a legal breed not subject to any prohibitions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Since the news of her death thousands of people have paid tribute to Bella-Rae online and dozens have left flowers, balloons and teddy bears at the scene.
A little boy in his school uniform was seen walking up to the cordon and handing a police officer a pink star balloon with 'Rest in peace Bella Rae' written on it, along with a small rabbit teddy bear with the pink nose.
Her family issued a tribute to Bella-Rae through Merseyside police, and said: "As a family we would like to thank the community for their support. We would ask that we are now allowed some space and time to try and come to terms with the tragic loss of our much-loved Bella-Rae. She will be sadly missed but never forgotten."
In a police press statement made close to the scene, Superintendent Steve Brizell said: "The community of Blackbrook and the whole of Merseyside has woken up today to the most tragic news. Officers were called to attend a house here on Bidston Avenue, at around 3.50pm yesterday.
"We were called by the family of a 17-month-old girl Bella-Rae Birch. Bella-Rae has lost her life in the most unimaginably terrible circumstances and our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and the wider community at this devastating time."
He added: "At this stage we understand that the family dog they'd bought just a week earlier has attacked Bella-Rae inside the family home. Bella-Rae was taken by ambulance to hospital by paramedics but despite the best efforts at police officers at the scene, the paramedics and doctors, sadly Bella-Rae died as a result of her injuries."
Anyone with any information that might assist enquiries is asked to contact us via our social media desk on Twitter at @MerPolCC or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook, quoting reference 22000196837.
