LIFE IN JAIL ‘RIGHT’ FOR OWNERS OF KILLER DOGS

THE stepfather of a teenage girl mauled to death by a pack of dogs has welcomed proposals for life jail terms for owners of killer dogs.

But he warned more needs to be done to prevent an “epidemic” of attacks sweeping the country.

Jade Lomas-Anderson, 14, was savaged by four dogs – believed to be two bull mastiffs and two Staffordshire bull terriers – as she was visiting the home of a friend near Wigan in March.

Her stepdad Michael Anderson, 34, said plans for longer sentences for irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to attack members of the public was “going down the right path”.

But Mr Anderson said he and his wife – Jade’s mother Shirley, 36 – who both live in Atherton, Wigan, will carry on campaigning in support of early prevention measures, such as dog control notices and microchipping.

“Dog attacks have been going for years and it has got worse and worse,” he said.

“A quarter of a million people were attacked last year alone – this has reached epidemic levels.”

No prosecutions were brought against the owner of the dogs that killed Jade, as the incident occurred on private property and they were not illegal breeds.

Last month, Jade’s parents and the parents of four-year-old John Paul Massey, who died after his uncle’s pitbull attacked him in 2009, handed in a petition at 10 Downing Street calling for David Cameron to take action.