Tributes have poured in for the ‘lovely little lass’
A TRAUMATISED mum screamed “my baby’s dead” after her 10-year-old girl was mauled to death by their XL bully.
The young girl, locally named as Savannah, had been excitedly telling pals about her “new pet” before it suddenly turned on her in their family caravan on Friday afternoon.
A 10-year-old girl locally named as Savannah was killed by the new XL Bully family pet (stock image)
The attack took place in the family’s static caravan
A local witness told the Mail the “very big” XL Bully was certified and “well-behaved”.
He said: “The mother ran out from the static caravan screaming ‘my baby’s dead.’
“Some people from the caravan site went over to help. She was obviously really distraught.
“The police got here very fast, there were two helicopters, ambulances turned up and an armed response unit. Someone put the dog in a car apparently.”
The local farmer described the tragic youngster as “a really police girl” and a “lovely little lass”.
Residents said the 10-year-old had only recently boasted to friends: “I have got a new pet – an XL bully.”
Meanwhile, another neighbour said: “It is just a horrible tragedy. She was such a sweet thing. I only know her because she would come to the park to play.
“Everybody is totally shocked and upset about it. The family have not lived here long.
“I have only met her. I have never met her mum and dad.
“She would come to the park and play on the swings and I would pass the time of day with her. She was a lovely little girl – really chatty. It is just so sad.”
North Yorkshire Police were called to the property near Malton by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service at around 4.15pm.
The force said: “One of the lines of enquiry relates to the behaviour of the dog to help explain, as far as possible, why it attacked the girl.
“All indications so far suggest it was out-of-character, with the girl and dog having a close, loving relationship.”
Cops said a hero nearby tried to intervene and emergency services battled to save the girl but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The youngster was seen happily playing on the swings in the play area of the adjoining caravan park near Malton, North Yorks, just the afternoon before tragedy struck.
She had moved there over the summer with her parents and they were living in a static caravan in a private yard behind a neighbouring warehouse, near a holiday park.
A site official said: “We knew they had an XL bully dog. We only knew her because her mum had asked if she could play in the park and we said ‘Of course she can’.
“She told us she had a new dog. It was not that long ago.
“I have never seen or heard the dog and I am here every day.”
“There have been a couple of incidents when people had seen the dog come as far as the yard gate without any muzzle or lead on and that was a bit scary.
“She had said herself ‘We have got a new pet’.”
A family member managed to trap the dog inside a car until the emergency services arrived.
In an update issued by police on Sunday, a spokesperson confirmed that the dog will be put down in due course.
They added that the force was trying to determine the reason for the pet going into attack mode, which was counter to its usual nature.
They said: “All indications so far suggest it was out-of-character, with the girl and dog having a close, loving relationship.”
Tributes have flooded in on social media for the youngster. One woman posted on Facebook: “Such sad news. My heart goes out to the family.”
Another said: “Rest peacefully young lady condolences to all concerned.”
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “North Yorkshire Police is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a 10-year-old girl in the Malton area.
“She suffered serious injuries after being bitten by the family’s dog while at home at around 4.15pm on Friday (1 November 2024).
“Despite the efforts of medical professionals and a member of the public who came to the family’s aid, the girl sadly died at the scene.
“Officers are conducting detailed enquiries covering all aspects of the incident.
“One of the lines of enquiry relates to the behaviour of the dog to help explain, as far as possible, why it attacked the girl.
“All indications so far suggest it was out-of-character, with the girl and dog having a close, loving relationship.
“Due to the circumstances of the incident, the dog will be destroyed.
“A post-mortem examination of the girl is taking place this (Sunday 3 November 2024) evening.
“Further updates will be posted on the force website and social media channels.
“In the meantime, we again urge people not to speculate about the incident and to respect the family’s wish for privacy to grieve in peace.
“Our officers are continuing to support the family while enquiries continue.”
The child’s death is the latest in a spate of fatal dog attacks in England and Wales this year.
At least seven deaths have been reported of children and adults bitten or injured by dogs over the past 10 months.
In February, it became a criminal offence to own an XL bully without a certificate.
According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 30 deaths caused by dog attacks in 2023, more than double the total deaths recorded in 2022.
