The family of a teenage girl who was mauled to death by four dogs today backed a new campaign for stricter laws amid a series of recent fatal attacks, saying: "Things are at breaking point. We want justice for families."
Jade Lomas-Anderson was bitten 'from head to toe' by two bull mastiffs and two Staffordshire bull terriers at a friend's home in Atherton, Wigan, on March 26, 2013. She tragically died from her injuries aged just 14.
An inquest into Jade's death was told her friend's mother, Beverley Concannon, had five dogs. Some, however, were said to be 'stir-crazy' and 'hyper-aggressive' from being caged or cooped up inside the house, with neighbours alleging at the inquest they weren't walked.
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Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence for a manslaughter case. Instead, magistrates gave her a 16-week suspended sentence for animal cruelty and a ban on keeping dogs.
Speaking out recently to mark 10 years since Jade's death, her step-father, Mike Anderson, said dangerous dog attacks had become a 'spiralling epidemic'.
The Manchester Evening News has sadly reported on further tragedies, with a three-year-old boy, Daniel Twigg, dying in hospital after he was attacked by a dog on Carr Lane in Milnrow, Rochdale, in May last year and a year on, on May 19, 37-year-old father Jonathan Hogg suffered fatal injuries after he was attacked by a dog, believed to be an XL bully-type.
Now Jade's family has spoken out to support a fresh drive for a law change, being led by the Daily Mirror.
Mike and Shirley Anderson, Jade's mum, told of their disgust at having three requests to meet DEFRA Secretary Therese Coffey ignored over the past two months in a bid to stop more tragedies. They have called for previous legislation – achieved after they lobbied the Government – to be ripped up.
Mike said the fault for deaths since his first call for action last month lies squarely at the Government's door. He said: "We lost Jade and we can't sit back and do nothing. But the Government are doing just that - nothing. My message to Ms Coffey and her team is, ‘I hope you’re sleeping well because we, the victims’ families, aren’t’.
"We want to join the Mirror and victims to achieve meaningful change from the Government. Things are at breaking point. We want justice for families."
The Mirror told how Emma Whitfield, 32, also called for new laws after her 10-year-old son Jack Lis was mauled to death by an XL Bully called Beast in November 2021.
In 2014, after meeting former DEFRA head Lord De Mauley, Mike and Shirley managed to get new legislation set up in Jade’s name, meaning it was an offence to have a dangerous dog in a private property as well as in public. But they have urged more now needs to be done. Recent statistics show the number of dangerous dog attacks has grown by a third in five years.
Mike said: “Every time we see a case it takes us back to the pain we suffered. How are people still going through this?”
Shirley said of hearing nothing from DEFRA: "Surely we should have a say in the law we helped campaign for? They need to show they care. It’s insulting to Jade’s legacy."
Downing Street yesterday failed to make any firm commitments to tackling dangerous dogs after the Mirror highlighted a spate of brutal killings.
Rishi Sunak’s spokesman admitted “dog attacks can lead to tragic consequences”, acknowledging the recent “horrific cases”. But he only said a review was ongoing into regulations for licensed dog breeders and pet sellers before any decision would be made on tightening current laws. Ministers have also set up a working group with police, councils and animal welfare experts on reducing dog attacks, he added.
Vanessa Waddon, founder of Hope Rescue, said while she appreciates changing laws takes time, it is 'not an excuse not to do anything'. "What we can do now is crackdown on illegal and low welfare and irresponsible breeding," she said. "We have to put more resources into enforcement because these people are just breeding these dogs in full view of everyone.
"They’re all over social media. I spent two hours one afternoon - I started on one breeder’s page on Facebook and followed through their connections and within two hours I found 30 illegal bully breeders in the Cardiff area alone."
Lib Dem MP Tim Farron echoed: “It is vital that the rules around people whose dogs attack people should be banned from having dogs are enforced.” He said the review into the law was needed “as soon as possible to see if tougher penalties should be considered”.
“It is always horrific to hear about people being killed by dangerous dogs,” he added.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “There have been some horrific cases and our thoughts and sympathies are with those that have been affected. We know dog attacks can lead to tragic consequences. It’s why we have a number of measures in place to protect people.
“There is the Dangerous Dogs Act which puts people in prison or disqualifies them from ownership if they let their dogs get dangerously out of control.
“Breeding and selling dogs as pets without a licence carries a penalty of an unlimited fine or six months in prison and we’re also currently reviewing the regulations for licensed dog breeders and pet sellers to look at whether any changes need to be made to tighten up the current conditions.
“And finally, we’ve set up a working group with the police, local authority groups and animal welfare experts to look at ways to take forward measures on reducing dog attacks and to promote responsible dog ownership.”
Labour MP Wayne David, who has backed the Mirror’s campaign to crackdown on dangerous dogs, said the government’s review is not due until the “end of this year” but should be published “immediately, and no later than the summer”. "The Government has deliberated and pontificated for long enough. What is being called for now is action,” he said.
“If there is not action, then the number of attacks and fatalities, particularly involving children, will increase, so action is required urgently.”
The distraught mother of Jack Lis, a ten-year-old who was killed in a horrendous dog attack in 2021, previously told the Mirror she is determined no other parent should face the trauma of losing a child to a dog mauling.
Emma Whitfield is campaigning for an urgent change of the law after seeing her fatally injured son dragged away by the arm from an XL Bully. Since Jack’s death 18 months ago, 15 others have lost their lives to dogs – five involving children. None of these killer pets were on the banned list of dangerous dogs.
Campaigners say the law is not “fit for purpose” and are demanding the Government ditch it. The Mirror is calling for the overhaul of the Dangerous Dogs Act and for the enforcement of rules to stop the illegal and irresponsible breeding and selling of dogs.
It also wants a public information campaign to promote the importance of responsible dog ownership and the need for training.
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