Euro MP calls for action on dangerous dogs

Merseyside MEP, Paul Nuttall has called for action on dangerous dogs after a boy was mauled to death by a pit bull terrier in Wavertree.

Four-year-old John Paul Massey was killed after being attacked by a pit bull, a breed which is banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Merseyside police have admitted that they did not follow up earlier reports that illegal dog breeding was taking place at the address where the youngster was killed.

“This is a tragedy” said Liverpool based Mr Nuttall, Euro MP for UKIP.

“You have a young child being killed by a dog that should not even exist under the terms of the Dangerous Dogs Act. Yet a clandestine breeding programme was going on, and the police simply didn’t treat it with the priority it deserved.

“I call on Merseyside police to follow up complaints of this nature in much more detail in future to prevent another tragedy”.

Mr Nuttall also extended his condolences to the family of the dead youngster, and commended the bravery of his 63-year-old grandmother, who suffered injuries as she fought off the dog before it was eventually killed by police marksmen.